Rahul Gandhi leaves ED office after 11-hr grilling, to appear again on Wednesday

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister and DMK President M K Stalin on Tuesday lashed out at the Enforcement Directorate action against Congress leaders Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi and dubbed it as an "outrageous act of political vendetta" against the national party by the ruling BJP at the Centre "using" the probe agency.

In a tweet, Stalin said the political opponents should be fought politically. "I condemn the outrageous act of political vendetta against Congress party and its leaders Tmt Sonia Gandhi and Thiru @RahulGandhi by the ruling BJP govt using the Enforcement Directorate," he said in a tweet.

(With inputs from PTI)

Unsatisfied with Rahul Gandhi's answers, the Enforcement Directorate summoned the Congress leader again on Wednesday. The agency said that Rahul Gandhi gave similar replies to many questions directed at him. 

(With inputs from Atul Bhatia)

The Enforcement Directorate has asked Congress leader Rahul Gandhi to appear for questioning over the National Herald investigation tomorrow for the third consecutive day, said sources. His questioning is yet to end today.

(With inputs from Atul Bhatiya)

Congress leader Bhupesh Baghel said that he was stopped on the way to Badarpur police station. "The ruling party is making all efforts to suppress the Opposition. They keep saying 'Congress-mukt Bharat', but they can't achieve this. This is why they're using agencies like ED," said Bhupesh Baghel. 

Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot said Congress leaders were going to two different police stations to meet the detained Congress leaders but they were not allowed to do so. "Such a thing has never happened before. This is a dangerous situation in the country today," added Gehlot in Delhi.

The leader mentioned that all the government wants to do is make India a Hindu nation. "They are only spreading poison in the name of 'Hindutva'. Mahatma Gandhi had said that he respected all religions equally. Do people of BJP or RSS have this sentiment in them?" Rajasthan CM Ashok Gehlot questioned. 

Congress leaders Bhupesh Baghel and Mukul Wasnik stopped outside Apollo Hospital on their way to Badarpur police station to meet party leaders. Congress leader Gaurav Gogoi says party leaders KC Venugopal, AR Chowdhury, MPs Deepender Hooda, Ranjita Ranjan, Jothimani, himself and other Cong leaders continue to be detained at Badarpur PS for the last 7 hours. KC Venugopal has also received medical attention there," he added. 

Angered by ED's interrogation of Rahul Gandhi, Maharashtra Pradesh Congress President Nana Patole warned of the 'jail Bharo' movement. The leader said that the Narendra Modi government is unnecessarily trying to frame Rahul Gandhi and the Gandhi family. 

After a one-hour lunch break, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi returned to the Enforcement Directorate office. Rahu Gandhi was questioned for four hours in the first round today. Gandhi appeared before the ED for the second consecutive day over questioning in the National Herald money-laundering case.

(With inputs from Atul Bhatia)

Mallikarjun Kharge, Jairam Ramesh, Randeep Singh Surjewala, Raghu Sharma and other leaders were present at Vasant Kunj PS in Delhi. 

Surjewala and some other leaders and workers were detained earlier today during their protest over ED probe against Rahul Gandhi in the National Herald case. 

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi gets a one-hour lunch break. He will have to appear before the Enforcement Directorate at 4.30 pm. 

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi left the Enforcement Directorate (ED) office after second day of questioning. The ED is recording the statement of Rahul Gandhi under criminal sections of the PMLA.

(With inputs from Atul Bhatia)

New Delhi: Congress workers stage a protest in support of party leader Rahul Gandhi outside the AICC headquarters, Tuesday, June 14, 2022. Gandhi appeared before the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in the National Herald case for the second consecutive day on Tuesday.

Senior Congress leaders KC Venugopal,  Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury, Gaurav Gogoi, Deepender Singh Hooda, Ranjeet Ranjan, Imran Pratapgarhi & others who are in police custody have been taken to Badarpur police station in Delhi.

"Modi govt is pursuing a political vendetta. There is no case, it's fabricated... We will fight it out," says Senior Congress KC Venugopal, who has been taken into police custody with others as they protested over the ED probe against Rahul Gandhi in National Herald case.

New Delhi: Congress workers being detained during a protest march outside the AICC headquarters ahead of party leader Rahul Gandhi's second appearance before the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in the National Herald case, in New Delhi, Tuesday, June 14, 2022.

New Delhi: Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel during a protest march outside the AICC headquarters ahead of Congress leader Rahul Gandhi's second appearance before the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in the National Herald case, in New Delhi, Tuesday, June 14, 2022

New Delhi: Police stop Congress workers during a protest march at the AICC ahead of Rahul Gandhi's second appearance before the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in the National Herald case, in New Delhi, Tuesday, June 14, 2022

Pictures show Rahul Gandhi with Priyanka Gandhi, meeting party workers at the AICC headquarters before leaving for the Enforcement Directorate (ED) office to appear in the National Herald case, in New Delhi, Tuesday, 14th June, 2022. 

Chhattisgarh Chief Minister and Congress leader Bhupesh Baghel has been detained by Delhi Police as he protests over ED probe against party leader Rahul Gandhi. 

"Our protest will continue... what happened to ED cases against BJP leaders Himanta Biswa Sarma & Narayan Rane?... I've been detained," says Baghel.

No one can imagine the pressure from govt on Delhi Police... we can manage with Sec 144, but you can't stop us from coming into the AICC office. The situation in the country is very serious. People coming on roads on Ram Navami & Friday namaz: Rajasthan CM & Congress leader Ashok Gehlot

Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, who accompanied brother Rahul Gandhi to the ED office, has now left the spot.

Reports Atul Bhatia

Congress leader Randeep Surjewala and others detained as they protest over ED probe against party leader Rahul Gandhi in the National Herald case

Rahul Gandhi has reached the ED office.

Rahul Gandhi has left for the ED office, where he will appear for questioning in the National Herald money laundering case. 

Congress MP Manickam Tagore on Tuesday claimed that Delhi Police has again detained senior Congress leaders ahead of Rahul Gandhi's second appearance before the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in the National Herald case. Tagore along with PL Punia, Qazi Muhammad Nizamuddin and other Congress leaders was seen in the video posted by Congress MP.

In a video taken by Tagore in a moving bus with other leaders, he said, "Today we came to the AICC, myself, Punia ji, Qazi Nizamuddin and we are all there. We were not allowed inside the AICC office. The police misbehaved with us and we are being taken to an unknown destination. We feel that the force of Amit Shah cannot stop us."

Similar to what was witnessed yesterday, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra will march to the ED office with Rahul Gandhi even today. 

Reports Vijay Laxmi

"We're protesting against misuse of law, if ED follows the law, we've no problem. But ED is not following the law. We're asking what's the scheduled offence? There's no answer. Which police agency has registered an FIR? No answer; no copy of FIR," says P Chidambaram

"Obviously, they're not following the law & in a democracy, we are entitled to protest, is there any BJP leader against whom the ED has registered a case in the last 4-5 years? Is there any BJP-ruled state where the ED has registered a case," asks the senior Congress leader

Rahul Gandhi has left for Congress office. He is accompanied by his sister Priyanka Gandhi Vadra. 

Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel has also reached the Congress headquarters.

Reports Vijay Laxmi 

"Police have made arrangements like we did yeserday, we're fully prepared and have requested the protest organizers to hold gatherings at the designated place i.e. Jantar Mantar. We had detained 449 people yesterday who were later released," says Sagar Preet Hooda, Special CP (Law& Order)

Several roads have been blocked as heavy security arrangements have been made ahead of Rahul Gandhi's visit to the ED office. 

Here are routes to avoid

• Centre is scared of Rahul Gandhi's politics as he is raising issues concerning the common public
• This entire exercise is illegal, unconstitutional, malicious and an exercise by a prime minister burning in the fire of political vendetta
• The protest march by Congress leaders in support of the former party chief will continue, descendants of (Mahatma) Gandhi will not fear the descendants of (Nathuram) Godse
• Delhi Police arrested as many as 20,000 Congress leaders on Monday and kept them in illegal custody for 12 hours, five lakh people across the country have courted arrest in protest
• Is this country democratic or an unbridled dictatorship? We are descendants of Gandhi. We will walk again. This is our satyagraha
• The ED action is based on a private complaint from BJP leader Subramanian Swamy, which has been stayed on his appeal. An ED summons can only be based on an FIR
• Is this a conspiracy to muzzle the voice of people? Has Rahul Gandhi become a hurdle in the way of the prime minister protecting the interests of his cronies?

The ED is recording the statement of Rahul Gandhi under criminal sections of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). The probe is related to alleged financial irregularities in the party-promoted Young Indian that owns the National Herald newspaper, published by the Associated Journals Limited (AJL).

Congress chief Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi are among the promoters and shareholders of Young Indian.

In a statement, the Delhi Police said a total of 459 people, including Congress leaders and workers, were detained as the party held massive protests against the summoning of Rahul Gandhi by the Enforcement Directorate. 

Rahul Gandhi went from the party headquarters on Akbar Road to the ED office in central Delhi, a few kilometres away, in a convoy of seven cars after walking for some distance with his supporters. Accompanied by top Congress leaders, including sister Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, Gandhi arrived at the ED office at around 11 am on Monday. 

After about two-and-a-half hours, he left the ED office for a lunch break during which he met his mother Sonia Gandhi at the Ganga Ram Hospital, where she has been admitted, and returned at 3.30 pm.

The questioning was over by nearly 11 pm after which Gandhi had left the ED office. 

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi will appear before the ED today as day 2 of questioning will resume in the National Herald money laundering case.