National Herald case: ED doesn't issue new summons to Sonia for 3 hours

By Our Special Correspondent

Congress president Sonia Gandhi was questioned by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) for the third time for more than three hours in the National Herald newspaper money laundering case on Wednesday.

However, she indicated that the investigation was over as no summons was issued in the latest.

With Wednesday's three-day round, Gandhi was interrogated for more than 11 hours and faced nearly 100 questions, officials said. Her first round of interrogation was held on July 21.

Along with daughter Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and son Rahul Gandhi, Gandhi arrived at the investigating agency's office in central Delhi at 11 am.

The meeting started at 11.15 am. The probe included a chief investigating officer and a person who took notes of statements directed by the Congress chief.

Sonia Gandhi left the ED office at 2 pm with Vadra accompanying her to the 'Pravartan Bhawan' (ED headquarters) to provide any help or medical treatment to her mother.

The question relates to allegations of financial irregularities in the Congress-promoted Young Indian Pvt Ltd, which owns the National Herald newspaper.

The Associated Journals Ltd (AJL)-Young Indian deal meant that the Congress chief stuck to the party's stance that personal assets had nothing to do with it and that other office bearers, including the late Moti Lal Vora, handled normal affairs.