Summons to Rahul Gandhi Was ‘Baseless’: P Chidambaram
New Delhi: With Rahul Gandhi set to appear before the Enforcement Directorate in a money laundering case, senior Congress leader P Chidambaram on Sunday asserted that the summons to the former party chief was “baseless” and said it appears that the ED’s jurisdiction does not extend to the BJP members or to states ruled by the saffron party.
Chidambaram also said every effort should be made and will be made to forge unity among the Opposition parties in the upcoming presidential polls.
Asked about the ED summons to Rahul and Sonia Gandhi and the Congress’ decision of a show of strength when the former appears before the investigative agency on Monday, Chidambaram said, “I speak as a Congress member and an advocate.
The ED’s summons to Mr Rahul Gandhi under PMLA (Prevention of Money Laundering Act) is baseless.” Pointing out that the offence of money laundering requires ‘money’ and ‘laundering of money’, the former home minister said that in the National Herald debt-to-equity conversion, something which lending banks do on a regular basis, there was no transaction of money.
Therefore, how can there be money laundering, he asked. “It is like accusing a person of the offence of ‘purse snatching’ when there was no purse and no snatching,” he argued.
As Congress members, Chidambaram said, party leaders will express solidarity with Rahul Gandhi and march with him to the ED’s office on Monday.
Reacting to the government’s contention that the agencies do their job and the opposition should not worry if they have done no wrong, Chidambaram said as far as the ED ‘doing its job’ is concerned, “it appears that the ED’s jurisdiction does not extend to BJP members or to states ruled by the BJP!”
Next Story:
-
Rajasthani Film ‘Bharkhama’ Won Special Jury Mention at JIFF 2025
![Rajasthani Film ‘Bharkhama’ Won Special Jury Mention at JIFF 2025]()
The Rajasthani film Bharkhama made waves at the Jaipur International Film Festival (JIFF) 2025, earning the distinguished Special Jury Mention Award. The movie’s special screening at GT Inox, Malviya Nagar, Jaipur, left a profound impact on both viewers and critics, marking a significant moment for regional cinema. The event was further elevated by the presence…
-
Trump Launches $500 Billion “Stargate” AI Venture
![Trump Launches $500 Billion “Stargate” AI Venture]()
In a major push to advance artificial intelligence (AI) infrastructure, United States President Donald Trump revealed a $100 billion joint venture called “Stargate” on January 21 (January 22 IST). The initiative, spearheaded by SoftBank Group, OpenAI, and Oracle Corporation, aims to revolutionize AI development in the U.S. with plans to scale the investment to $500…
-
Dalit Groom Riding Horse Faces Opposition: Police Step in for Protection
![Dalit Groom Riding Horse Faces Opposition: Police Step in for Protection]()
In Lavera village of Srinagar block, Ajmer district, a wedding procession proceeded peacefully on January 21 under heavy police protection. Around 400 police personnel were deployed to prevent potential opposition from upper-caste locals, who reportedly objected to the groom riding a horse—an act traditionally viewed as a symbol of status and equality.
-
Beti Bachao Beti Padhao Marks 10 Years of Launch
![Beti Bachao Beti Padhao Marks 10 Years of Launch]()
As India marks the tenth anniversary of the Beti Bachao Beti Padhao (BBBP) initiative, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has hailed the program’s transformative impact on addressing gender disparities and empowering the girl child. Launched on January 22, 2015, the initiative has evolved into a landmark movement for gender equality and girl-child education in India.
-
JEE Mains Exam: 3 Students Denied Entry for Arriving Late
![JEE Mains Exam: 3 Students Denied Entry for Arriving Late]()
The JEE Mains exams, necessary for admissions in prestigious engineering colleges across India, began on Wednesday, attracting thousands of eager students to exam centers nationwide. However, three students at the Ion Digital Zone Exam Center in Visakhapatnam were denied entry for arriving late.
Now you can get latest stories from Indtoday on Telegram everyday. Click the link to subscribe. Click to follow Indtoday Facebook page and Twitter and on Instagram. For all the latest Hyderabad News updates
