Pawan Khera on National Herald Case: Congress Gave Interest-Free Loans to Promote Ideology; ED Has No Right to Advise on Asset Sales.
New Delhi: In the National Herald case, Congress leader Pawan Khera has explicitly stated before the Enforcement Directorate (ED) that he provided interest-free loans to save the newspaper and that there was no question of advising the sale of assets if the loans were not repaid. He questioned the ED, asking, “Who is advising the ED on this?”
Questions on Divestment
Pawan Khera said that the Congress did not engage in any “money-lending business” in operating the National Herald but rather met business expenses through a non-profit company. Even if the loans were not repaid, how could there be talk of selling the assets? He stated that the party had often taken this step for the poor and to strengthen its ideology.
Congress's Argument
The Congress's stance is that a non-profit organization was formed to revive the newspaper. The money was not invested for the personal benefit of any leader but was spent on running the newspaper, preserving its legacy, and promoting the pre-independence ideology.
Supriya Shrinate's Statement
Congress spokesperson Supriya Shrinate said that this is a sufficiently unusual case because money laundering charges are made, but there was no cash transaction. She said, “It is a strange case in which there is talk of investing money, but nothing looks like a transaction.”
Money Laundering Charges Baseless
Senior advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi also presented his arguments. He said that “Young Indian did not get an inch of property from AJL and no leader received personal benefit. The charges made today are completely groundless.”
ED's Allegation: ₹2,000 Crore Scam?
The ED claims that Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi, Motilal Vora, Oscar Fernandes, Suman Dubey, Sam Pitroda, and Young Indian conspired to fraudulently take possession of approximately ₹2,000 crore worth of AJL's assets. According to the ED, the Gandhi family held 76% shares in Young Indian and this property was acquired in exchange for a loan-bribe of ₹90 crore.
