Sonia Gandhi ED case: Congress president's second round of questioning ends, to be quizzed again tomorrow

Tomorrow also we'll continue our 'Satyagraha' across the country and take up the issues of people. In Delhi, we'll protest at our central office, said Congress leader Ajay Maken on party chief Sonia Gandhi being asked to appear before ED tomorrow in the National Herald case.

Congress MPs were released after a 7-hour detention at around 6:45 pm to the news that Sonia Gandhi has been summoned by the ED for a third day tomorrow. This is Vishguru's political vendetta with a vengeance. Atrocious is the mildest word to describe it, said Congress leader Jairam Ramesh.

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi reaches his residence from Kingsway Police camp. Rahul Gandhi and other Congress leaders were detained by Delhi Police, earlier today.

Congress interim president Sonia Gandhi has been asked to reappear tomorrow before ED in the National Herald case, sources said.

The 'King' of the country has ordered - who will ask questions on unemployment, inflation, wrong GST, Agneepath - put him in jail. Even though I am in custody now, even though it is a crime to raise the voice of the people in the country now, but they will never be able to break our spirits, said Rahul Gandhi while launching an attack at the Modi government as Congress chief Sonia Gandhi is being questioned by the ED.

As Sonia Gandhi is being questioned by the ED, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra lashed out at the Centre and said, "the dictatorship of the BJP is now in the open. Cannot discuss important issues in Parliament and raise public voice on the street. By employing police and agencies, the dictatorial government wants to suppress the opposition. This is a fight for truth, will not bow down, will not be afraid, will fight, will win."

Congress interim President Sonia Gandhi arrives at ED office after the lunch break. Her second round of questioning in connection with the National Herald case began, earlier today.

Delhi Police personnel can be seen pulling the hair of National President of Indian Youth Congress, Srinivas BV, and manhandling him earlier during the party's protest. 

Youth Congress workers blocked a train in Kerala's Kannur in their protest against ED questioning of party's interim president Sonia Gandhi in the National Herald case. They were later detained by Police following a brief scuffle.

Sonia Gandhi has left the ED office in Delhi for lunch and will return back around 3:30 pm to continue with the second round of questioning in connection with National Herald case.

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has been taken to Kingsway Camp where other Congress MP's have been detained by police following a protest over ED questioning of the party's interim president Sonia Gandhi.

All (Congress) MPs came here. They talked about inflation and unemployment. They (Police) are not allowing us to sit here. Discussions are not allowed inside (the Parliament) and here they are arresting us: Congress MP Rahul Gandhi before being detained, at Vijay Chowk in Delhi

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has been taken to Parliament Street police station after being detained during a protest march from Parliament to Vijay Chowk

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has been detained amid protests by Congress leaders and MPs 

We're protesting as per the instruction of the police. All of this is a conspiracy by PM Modi & Amit Shah to completely destroy the Opposition and muzzle our voices. We won't be scared, our fight will continue: Congress leader & LoP Mallikarjun Kharge

"They're trying to harass Opposition leaders, we'll fight it. We're with Sonia Gandhi & Rahul Gandhi. You can't harass us anymore," says Karnataka Congress chief DK Shivakumar

The move to question the Gandhis was initiated after the ED late last year registered a fresh case under the criminal provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act.

This was after a trial court here took cognisance of an Income Tax department probe against Young Indian based on a private criminal complaint by BJP MP Subramanian Swamy in 2013.

Sonia and Rahul Gandhi are among the promoters and majority shareholders in Young Indian. Like her son, the Congress president too has 38 per cent shareholding.

Swamy had accused the Gandhis and others of conspiring to cheat and misappropriate funds, with Young Indian paying only Rs 50 lakh to obtain the right to recover Rs 90.25 crore that Associate Journals Limited owed to the Congress.

In February last year, the Delhi High Court issued a notice to the Gandhis seeking their response to Swamy's plea. Congress leaders Mallikarjun Kharge and Pawan Bansal were questioned by the ED in the case in April.

Congress has maintained there has been no wrongdoing and Young Indian is a "not-for-profit" company established under section 25 of the Companies Act and hence there can be no question of money laundering.

It is understood that Rahul Gandhi, during his deposition before the ED, stuck to the position that there was no personal acquisition of assets by himself or his family.

According to the ED, assets worth about Rs 800 crore are "owned" by the AJL and the agency wants to know from the Gandhis how a not-for-profit company like Young Indian was undertaking commercial activities of renting out its land and building assets.

The Congress has planned a 'satyagraha' all over the country to protest the Enforcement Directorate's summons to Sonia Gandhi in the money laundering case linked to the National Herald newspaper.

Gandhi was questioned for over two hours during her first day of questioning in the case on July 21 where she responded to 28 questions put forth by the agency. The questioning was later deferred for Tuesday.