Congress Accuses Centre of Misusing Agencies; Holds Protest in Pune Over National Herald Case

Pune, 16th April 2025: The Congress party staged a protest near Pune Railway Station on Tuesday, alleging that the Central government is misusing investigative agencies like the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and the Enforcement Directorate (ED) to target its senior leaders Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi in the National Herald case.

Party workers raised slogans against the BJP-led government, calling the legal action a politically motivated move aimed at discrediting opposition voices ahead of upcoming elections.

Addressing the protest, Pune City Congress president Arvind Shinde claimed that Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah are using the ED and CBI to falsely implicate Rahul Gandhi and Sonia Gandhi in money laundering charges. He alleged that the arrests are being orchestrated under non-bailable sections of law to influence the forthcoming Bihar elections.

Shinde also criticized the functioning of the ED, stating that although the agency has registered nearly 900 cases, only two have led to convictions. He argued that this reflects a pattern of using investigative agencies to intimidate and pressure opposition leaders rather than pursuing justice.

The Congress party warned that any further action against its leadership could trigger a massive public backlash.