National Herald case: Sonia Gandhi questioned by Enforcement Directorate for 6 hours

New Delhi: Congress President Sonia Gandhi was questioned at the Enforcement Directorate office here on Tuesday in connection with the National Herald case for six hours.

She arrived at the ED office at 11 a.m. along with her daughter Priyanka Gandhi Vadra who was keeping a medicine box with her.

After three hours of questioning, Sonia Gandhi was allowed to go on a lunch break. She again joined the probe at around 4 pm.

The Congress chief was questioned by a team led by additional director Monika Sharma.

Priyanka Gandhi was allowed to be present at another room in case Sonia Gandhi needed any medicine.

On July 21, Sonia Gandhi had reached the ED’s headquarters at around 12.10 p.m. accompanied by her son Rahul Gandhi and daughter Priyanka Gandhi. A few minutes later Rahul Gandhi had left the ED’s office while Priyanka had stayed on.

Priyanka Gandhi had requested to be present at ED’s headquarters during the questioning of her mother, which was accepted by the ED.

Sources said that Sonia Gandhi was asked the same set of questions which were asked to Rahul Gandhi during his five-day questioning.

Youth Congress president allegedly manhandled

Indian Youth Congress’ president BV Srinivas was allegedly manhandled by the police personnel while he was being detained during the party’s protest in the national capital on Tuesday.

In a video of Srinivas, which is going viral on social media, a police personnel could be seen snatching the Congress leader’s hair as a dozen policemen tried to bundle him inside their vehicle.

In the same video, Srinivas too could be seen struggling to get out of the grip of policemen and talk to the media persons.

Deputy Commissioner of Police (New Delhi district) Amrutha Guguloth said they are trying to identify the police staff who allegedly manhandled Srinivas. “Disciplinary action would be initiated against the staff after identifying,” the DCP assured.

Earlier, the Delhi Police detained hundreds of party workers and parliamentarians, including Rahul Gandhi from two different locations -- near Parliament and outside Congress party headquarters at 24, Akbar Road.

Srinivas was detained from outside the AICC office.

Rahul Gandhi released from detention: Delhi Police

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi was released by the Delhi Police almost over six hours after he was detained during his party’s march from Parliament to Rashtrapati Bhawan, officials said Tuesday.

“They have been released,” Deputy Commissioner of Police (New Delhi) Amrutha Gugolth said while responding to a query about the Congress party leaders’ detention.

The Congress MPs carried out a protest march from the Parliament House to Rashtrapati Bhawan in wake of questioning of Congress interim president Sonia Gandhi by the Enforcement Directorate and no discussion on important issues like price rise in Parliament.

However, as the parliamentarians moved forward to give a memorandum to President Droupadi Murmu, the Delhi Police stopped them midway near Vijay Chowk.

Subsequently, the Congress parliamentarians, including Rahul Gandhi, sat in protest in front of the Vijay Chowk. The protesting Congress leaders, holding placards, raised slogans against the probe agency ED and the Central government.

There was a heavy police deployment, including para military and Rapid Action force. Initially, the police began detaining other leaders, including women MPs, and at last Deepender Singh Hooda and Rahul Gandhi were left at the spot. The woman Congress MPs could be seen being dragged by the police personnel and bundled in a bus.

“What is the problem? We want to go there to meet the President and hand over the memorandum. Why are we not allowed?,” Rahul Gandhi could be heard while he was talking to a Delhi Police official.

After detaining every protesting leader from near the Vijay Chowk, Rahul Gandhi was then detained and taken from there in a bus along with other MPs to new police lines, Kingsway Police camp.

Apart from Vijay Chowk, hundreds of party workers were also detained from outside the Congress party headquarters at 24, Akbar Road.