After the Enforcement Directorate named him on Friday in the National Herald case, Karnataka Deputy CM DK Shivakumar told News18 that he gave funds to the party's paper.
“What’s wrong with that,” the Congress leaders told News18.
The ED probe also reportedly named Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy.
"Telangana has become an ATM for Scamgress and it’s been now corroborated by agencies. As the ED charge sheets Telangana “Bag Man” in National Herald case, he is trying his best to distract the people’s attention from his corrupt practices. The million dollar question is whether the NDA Govt will act this time or pardon Revant Reddy as they’ve done in the case of Amrut Scam, RR Tax and Civil supplies scam," Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) working president K T Rama Rao said.
The ED earlier alleged that the proceeds of crime in the National Herald case against Congress' Sonia and Rahul Gandhi were obtained on "instructions of some senior party leaders" towards "protection, tickets to contest elections, and securing positions in the party".
The ED has filed its chargesheet against Congress leaders Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi and others under Sections 3 (money laundering) and 4 (punishment for money laundering) of Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).
ED alleged proceeds of crime amounting to Rs 988 crore -- obtained through various channels -- in the case. Proceeds of crime include any property obtained or derived directly or indirectly as a result of criminal activity relating to a scheduled offence -- in this case the offence of money laundering.
The central probe agency's case accuses the Gandhis, late Congress leaders Motilal Vora and Oscar Fernandes aside from Dubey, Pitroda and a private company Young Indian of conspiracy and money laundering over the fraudulent takeover of properties valued over Rs 2,000 crore belonging to the Associated Journals Limited (AJL).
The ED's chargesheet filed in a Delhi court said the payments received by Young Indian were not in the nature of donations but in the nature of accommodation entries arranged as a part of the criminal conspiracy by the accused persons and in continuation of money laundering-related activities. "The senior leaders of the Congress Party who were office bearers in Young Indian under the patronage of Gandhi family members namely Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi, influenced various persons including some Congress members/leaders to arrange funds for Young Indian, in the guise of donations, in lieu of various favours promised to them and also in lieu of cash from AICC office," the ED said.
The ED on Wednesday informed special judge Vishal Gogne that a "prima facie" case of money laundering was made against Gandhis and others in the matter.
The judge was hearing submissions on the point of cognisance. The judge partially heard the arguments and posted the hearings starting July 2 till 8.
(With PTI inputs)
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