ED examines Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge in National Herald case

Sources in the agency say the investigators wanted to have some clarification from him

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, April 11

Leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha and senior Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge on Monday appeared before the Enforcement Directorate (ED) and recorded his statement under provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) in a corruption case linked to National Herald.

Sources in the federal financial probe agency said, Kharge was summed for questioning as he happens to be one of the office-bearers with Young India and Associated Journals Limited (AJL) and the investigators wanted to have some clarification from him.

The National Herald is linked to the Congress Party. Several of the top party leaders are under the ED scanner and the Income Tax Department in the alleged corruption case involving National Herald, Young India and Associated Journals Limited (AJL).

Last year, in a major setback for the Congress Party, the ED had attached a property in Haryana worth Rs 64 crore in this case. The plot in Haryana’s Panchkula was alleged to have been illegally allotted to the Associated Journals Limited (AJL) by then-Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda.

According to the probe agency, the plot was allotted to AJL in 1982. But the same was taken-back by the Estate Officer of the Haryana Urban Development Authority (HUDA) vide order dated October 30, 1992, as the AJL did not comply with the conditions of the allotment letter.

However, ED had earlier alleged that then-Chief Minister Hooda misused his official position and dishonestly allotted the said plot afresh in the guise of re-allotment to the AJL at original rates plus interest in violation of necessary conditions and policy of HUDA in 2005 for Rs 59,39,200.

“The actual value of the property as of February 26, 2011, and June 13, 2017, is Rs 32.25 crore and Rs 64.93 crore, respectively. The then Chief Minister caused wrongful loss to HUDA and wrongful gain to AJL by ignoring legal opinion of LR, Haryana and recommendations of HUDA Officers and FCTCP,” the ED had earlier said in a statement.