Daijiworld Media Network - Jaipur

Jaipur, Dec 16: Senior Congress leader and former Rajasthan chief minister Ashok Gehlot on Monday welcomed the decision of Delhi’s Rouse Avenue Court in the National Herald matter, describing it as a decisive reaffirmation of truth and a setback to what he termed the misuse of investigative agencies.

Gehlot said the court’s refusal to entertain the Enforcement Directorate’s complaint against Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi clearly establishes that no offence of money laundering is made out under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act. He reiterated that the Congress party had consistently maintained the case was politically motivated and constructed to damage the reputation of the Gandhi family.

According to Gehlot, the ED itself was aware that its charge sheet lacked substance, which is why, he alleged, an FIR was hastily registered with the Delhi Police a few days ago. He claimed the agency acted under pressure from the Modi government and has now faced embarrassment following the court’s ruling. Emphasising the verdict, Gehlot said the judiciary’s stand has removed all ambiguity and reaffirmed that truth ultimately prevails.

Earlier in the day, a Delhi court declined to take cognisance of the ED’s money laundering case linked to the National Herald. Special Judge Vishal Gogne of the Rouse Avenue Court ruled that the complaint filed under the PMLA was not maintainable as it stemmed from a private complaint rather than a First Information Report.

Apart from Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi, the ED had named Suman Dubey, Sam Pitroda, Young Indian, Dotex Merchandise, and Sunil Bhandari as accused in the matter. While reading out the operative part of the order, the court noted that an FIR had already been registered by the Economic Offences Wing of the Delhi Police, making it premature to examine the ED’s case on its merits.

The Enforcement Directorate has alleged a criminal conspiracy and money laundering involving senior Congress leaders and associated entities, claiming that properties worth nearly Rs 2,000 crore belonging to Associated Journals Limited, the publisher of the National Herald newspaper, were illegally taken over.