Patna (Bihar) [India], April 16 : As the Congress gears up for a nationwide protest against the central government after ED's action in National Herald Case, Bihar BJP President Dilip Jaiswal on Wednesday asserted that no amount of political pressure or protest can shield the guilty, emphasising that both the public and the Constitution will hold such individuals accountable.
Speaking to ANI, Jaiswal stressed that the law will punish parties and individuals who have done wrong.
"If any political party thinks that by misusing their workers they can escape the law, then the public will not forgive such people, and neither will the Constitution," he said.
"All investigative agencies function within the legal framework. If any wrongdoing has been committed, then no matter how big the protest, it will not be able to save them," the Bihar BJP Chief said.
Congress will hold a nationwide protest against the central government today in front of Enforcement Directorate offices at the State Headquarters and in front of Central Government offices at the district level in the respective states.
This came after the Enforcement Directorate, on Tuesday, filed a prosecution complaint (chargesheet) in Delhi's Rouse Avenue Court against Rahul Gandhi, Sonia Gandhi, and others in the alleged National Herald case. Congress strongly protested the move, terming it "politically motivated."
The ED's chargesheet also names Congress leader Sam Pitroda, Suman Dubey, and others, including several firms. The matter has been listed for arguments on cognisance in the Delhi Rouse Avenue Court on April 25.
The prosecution complaint has been filed under Sections 44 and 45 of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002, for the offence of money laundering, as defined under Section 3, read with Section 70, and punishable under Section 4 of the PMLA, 2002.
Special Judge Vishal Gogne stated that as per the submission of the counsel representing the ED, the predicate offence--recorded under complaint case No. 18/2019--includes charges under Sections 403, 406, and 420, read with Section 120(B) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), 1860, and is currently under trial at the Rouse Avenue Courts in New Delhi.
The court observed that under Section 44(1)(c) of the PMLA, the predicate offence must be tried in the same court that has taken cognisance of the money laundering offence under Section 3 of the PMLA. The court further noted that both offences--the predicate offence and the PMLA offence--must be adjudicated in the same jurisdiction.
The National Herald case is being heard in a Delhi court. The complaint was filed by BJP leader Subramanian Swamy against Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi, their associated companies, and other individuals.