Government using probe agencies to malign 'Gandhi family': Congress on ED's statement

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) claimed that Christian Michel, the alleged middleman in the AgustaWestland VVIP chopper case, has said that he was in touch with Congress’ Sonia Gandhi.

(Image: PTI)

New Delhi: In response to Enforcement Directorate’s statement in court about AgustaWestland case accused Christian Michel making reference to “Mrs Gandhi”,  Congress on Saturday alleged that Michel was being pressurised to name ‘a particular family’ to malign its reputation. Congress’ reaction came on the same day, the ED told court that Michel had made reference to “Mrs Gandhi” and “son of an Italian lady”. Reacting to Ed’s statement the BJP said that the ‘truth is finally coming out.’ The Congress also said Michel had stated before his extradition on record in court that he was being pressured to name a member of the Gandhi family and that is what they were planning and have done. The party dubbed the entire episode as a “fixed match.” While BJP seized the opportunity to attack the grand old party, Congress alleges that the government was suing probe agencies to malign the Gandhi family. A war of words was triggered between the two rival parties over ED’s statement.  Union ministers Prakash Javadekar and Ravi Shankar Prasad also hit out at Congress president Rahul Gandhi. While Prasad accused him of showering Prime Minister Narendra Modi with abuses and asserted that "today is the time for the Gandhi family to explain" following the ED's statement in court; Javadekar told that the truth about the Congress and Sonia Gandhi and Rahul is coming out before the people and people will give the Congress a befitting reply. Earlier on Saturday, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) claimed that Christian Michel, the alleged middleman in the AgustaWestland VVIP chopper case, has said that he was in touch with Congress’ Sonia Gandhi. However, the ED counsel did not clarify that in what context he took Sonia Gandhi’s name during the interrogation. An ED lawyer also said to the court that Michel spoke about ‘son of an Italian lady’ and how he will become the next prime minister of India, the reference being to Congress President Rahul Gandhi. Michel was produced in Patiala High Court after a seven days probe over money laundering charges in the AgustaWestland VVIP chopper scam. He was extradited from the UAE earlier this month. Michel was arrested in the UAE and extradited to India on December 4.