National Herald Case: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has attached assets worth Rs 751.9 crore as part of its probe into money laundering allegations against Congress party-promoted Young Indian that owns the National Herald newspaper, the central agency said on Tuesday. A provisional order has been issued under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) against National Herald's publisher, Associated Journals Limited, and its holding entity, Young Indian, the agency informed.
As per the ED, the attached assets include immovable properties spread across several cities. "Investigation revealed that Associated Journals Ltd. (AJL) is in possession of proceeds of crime in the form of immovable properties spread across many cities of India such as Delhi, Mumbai and Lucknow to the tune of Rs. 661.69 Crore and Young Indian (YI) is in possession of proceeds of crime to the tune of Rs. 90.21 Crore in the form of investment in equity shares of AJL.," it said in a statement.
ED has issued an order to provisionally attach properties worth Rs. 751.9 Crore in a money-laundering case investigated under the PMLA, 2002. Investigation revealed that M/s. Associated Journals Ltd. (AJL) is in possession of proceeds of crime in the form of immovable properties…
— ED (@dir_ed) November 21, 2023
Reacting to the development, Congress MP Manickam Tagore accused the ED of acting on behest of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. "The action of the ED under orders of Mr Modi to take away properties of the National Herald is an illegal action...People of MP, Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh and Telangana will give a befitting reply to Mr Modi."
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Key Congress leaders, including party matriarch Sonia Gandhi, Wayanad MP Rahul Gandhi, and party president Mallikarjun Kharge, faced ED interrogation in connection with the case last year.
(With inputs from agencies)