National Herald Row: Congress slams ED's action as "political vendetta", BJP defends proceedings

Chandigarh [India], April 12 (ANI): Former Railway Minister and senior Congress leader Pawan Kumar Bansal on Saturday slammed the Enforcement Directorate's (ED) action in the National Herald case, calling it a "baseless" move driven by a "political vendetta."
Speaking to ANI, Bansal alleged that the Modi government is misusing the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) to target political opponents and silence dissent, asserting that the case lacks legal merit and is aimed at stifling the Congress' voice.
"The entire case created by the ED under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act against the National Herald is baseless and a political vendetta. The Modi government has decided to squeeze its political opponents, and they are doing everything that is possible. PMLA does not apply to this case. Subramanian Swamy filed this case against us. This may have happened for the first time when the complainant demanded a stay of his own case. This is not a scheduled offence, yet the ED has started taking action," Pawan Bansal said.
Bansal expressed hope that courts will deliver justice in the National Herald row.
"Attachment and then possession of properties is absolutely wrong. We have faith in the courts that we will win, and they will not be able to prove anything. The reason behind taking action against the National Herald is to stop us from publishing our newspapers and sending our views out. They may also be nervous after the Congress' recent conference in Gujarat. This is an example of what the BJP is doing to the democracy," the Congress leader said.
On the other side, defending the Enforcement Directorate's action against the Associated Journals Limited (AJL) in the National Herald case, BJP leader RP Singh said the possession proceedings are part of the due legal process.
Speaking to ANI, Singh asserted that Congress must answer for alleged financial irregularities.
"It is a procedure. If one breaks the law, then the bogus advance rent of Rs 18 crores, a case of advertisement worth Rs 18 crores and a donation case of Rs 29 crores, steps will be taken in this regard, and they will have to answer. Property is being seized because they don't have the answer," RP Singh said.
In a significant move in the AJL case linked to Congress, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) has served notices to property registrars in Delhi, Mumbai, and Lucknow to take possession of assets worth Rs 661 crore.
The ED served notices to property registrars in the three cities in connection with properties of Associated Journals Ltd (AJL) on April 11, in accordance with Section 8 of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002, and Rule 5(1) of the associated rules.
"As part of the process to take possession of the tainted properties in the Associated Journals Limited (AJL) money laundering case, the Directorate of Enforcement (ED) in compliance with Section 8 of PMLA, 2002 and Rule 5(1) of the Prevention of Money Laundering (Taking Possession of Attached or Frozen Properties Confirmed by the Adjudicating Authority) Rules, 2013, on April 11 has served notices to Registrars of property in Delhi, Mumbai and Lucknow having jurisdiction of the area where AJL properties are located," ED said. (ANI)