The Congress on Tuesday launched a sharp attack on the Centre after a Delhi court declined to take cognisance of the Enforcement Directorate’s (ED) money laundering case related to the National Herald against senior party leaders Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi.
Addressing a press conference, Congress leader Pawan Khera alleged that central agencies were being misused for political purposes and described the case as part of a larger conspiracy aimed at weakening the Opposition. He claimed that the developments exposed what he termed the “gangs of Gandhinagar” for allegedly targeting opposition leaders through investigative agencies.
Khera asserted that the legal action was not merely directed at Rahul Gandhi but was an attempt to undermine democratic opposition in the country. He said Rahul Gandhi was fulfilling his role as the Leader of the Opposition effectively, which, according to the Congress, had prompted repeated attempts to harass him through legal means.
The political reaction followed observations made earlier in the day by the Rouse Avenue Court in Delhi. The court refused to take cognisance of the ED’s chargesheet, noting that it was based on a complaint by a private individual rather than an FIR linked to a predicate offence, which is a legal requirement under money laundering laws.
The court also pointed out that the Delhi Police’s Economic Offences Wing had already registered an FIR in the matter and stated that it would be premature to assess the ED’s arguments on merits at this stage.
The ruling has added fresh momentum to the ongoing political debate surrounding the National Herald case, with the Congress accusing the government of vendetta politics, while the Centre and the ED maintain that the investigation is being conducted strictly within the framework of law.
Originally published on 24×7-news.com.
