Congress leader Rahul Gandhi appeared before the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on the third day of questioning in the National Herald money-laundering probe. He was accompanied by his sister and Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra. He was grilled for over 11 hours by the ED for the second consecutive day on Tuesday. The Wayanad MP statement was recorded in multiple sessions under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) and after Tuesday's exercise, he has clocked close to 21 hours of questioning by the ED investigators. Hundreds of Congress leaders and supporters were detained outside the party headquarters at 24, Akbar Road and around central Delhi as they tried to hold a protest against the ED action for the second day. The Delhi Police said that it detained 217 Congress workers and leaders, including 15 MPs, from the New Delhi district on Tuesday for holding protests in violation of prohibitory orders despite being denied permission. They were later released, a police official said.

While agency sources informed that Gandhi recorded his statement and checked its transcript minutely, Congress leaders claimed that the investigators took multiple breaks during his questioning on Monday. The investigating officer of the case, an assistant director-rank ED officer, is expected to continue the questioning related to the incorporation of the Young Indian company, the operations of the National Herald newspaper, the loan given by the Congress to AJL, and the fund transfer within the news media establishment. The probe pertains to alleged financial irregularities in Young Indian Private Limited, promoted by the Congress, that owns National Herald. The newspaper is published by Associated Journals Limited (AJL) and owned by Young Indian.

Also read | Here's what happened in the last two days of questioning

Here are the latest updates

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# Enforcement Directorate asks Congress leader Rahul Gandhi to appear on Friday to rejoin the investigation.

# Uttar Pradesh Congress will hold a 'Raj Bhawan gherao" programme on Thursday to protest the continued questioning of senior party leader Rahul Gandhi by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in the National Herald money laundering case.

Congress's Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury seeks Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla's intervention alleging "inhuman treatment & humiliation meted out to party leader Rahul Gandhi by ED."

Rahul Gandhi is being probed by ED in the National Herald case pic.twitter.com/hKbCJazFkn— ANI (@ANI) June 15, 2022

# Senior Congress leader and former home minister P Chidambaram on Wednesday said the police action at the AICC headquarters was an "outrageous violation of liberty" and every legal and political norm in a democracy was "violated".

# Police detain Congress leader Sachin Pilot amid protests by party workers over the questioning of Rahul Gandhi by the ED in the National Herald case

# All Congress leaders will hold press conferences today. Tomorrow Congress will gherao all Raj Bhavans across India. Protests will also be held at all district levels day after tomorrow, says party MP Randeep Singh Surjewala.

# Congress did not take permission for gathering today, says Delhi Police

"Today is the third day of the demonstration, police made proper arrangements. We've detained around 150 people. Congress had not taken any permission for gathering today; their office bearers know about the area in which Sec 144 is imposed. When some workers did not agree to our appeal today also, we detained them. In 2.5 days, around 800 people have been detained," says Sagar Hooda, Special CP (Law & Order).

# A meeting of Congress leaders, including KC Venugopal, Bhupesh Baghel, Randeep Surjewala and Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury is underway at Congress headquarters over the issue of police's entry into the HQ.

# "It's unfortunate that we are being stopped from going to go to our own party headquarters. My official residential premises have been sealed by placing barricades. This indicates at political revenge," says Congress MP Deepender Singh Hooda.

# The protest by Congress workers turn violent.

#WATCH | Delhi: Congress workers outside the Enforcement Directorate office burn tires in protest to the ED probe against party leader Rahul Gandhi in the National Herald case. pic.twitter.com/eG3Qnq57oX

— ANI (@ANI) June 15, 2022

# Congress leaders including Bhupesh Baghel and KC Venugopal protest outside the AICC office.

# ED grills Rahul Gandhi for the third day in the National Herald-money laundering case.

# "Are we terrorists? Why are you scared of us? They are using police force against Congress leaders and workers," says Congress MP Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury.

# Rahul Gandhi reaches the ED office for the third day of questioning in the National Herald case.

#WATCH | Delhi: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi arrives at the Enforcement Directorate (ED) office to appear for the third consecutive day of questioning in the National Herald case. pic.twitter.com/xxG3vwjMil

— ANI (@ANI) June 15, 2022

# Chattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel reaches the Congress's office. He said that he wasn't allowed to meet the senior Congress leaders yesterday.

# Delhi: Congress workers chant 'Rahul Gandhi zindabad' while holding a protest over the ED probe against him in connection with the National Herald case.

#WATCH | Delhi: Congress workers chant 'Rahul Gandhi zindabad' while holding a protest over the ED probe against him in connection with the National Herald case.

(Visuals from inside the AICC office) pic.twitter.com/z9fNDA4LJE— ANI (@ANI) June 15, 2022

# Top Congress leaders including chief ministers of Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh – Ashok Gehlot and Bhupesh Baghel, respectively – and Randeep Surjewala are set to hold a special party briefing at around 9 am

# Section 144 imposed at Akbar road, where AICC headquarter is situated.

Delhi | Barricading underway and security forces are deployed near Akbar Road with Section 144 CrPC imposed in the area. pic.twitter.com/TXg14MpFt1

— ANI (@ANI) June 15, 2022

# Delhi Traffic Police issues advisory, asks people to avoid Motilal Nehru Marg, Akbar Road, Janpath & Man Singh Road between 7 am and 12 noon. Due to special arrangements traffic movement will not be possible on these roads. People are being advised to avoid Gol Methi junction, Tughlak Road Junction, Claridges Junction, Q-point Junction, Sunehri Masjid Junction, Maulana Azad Road Junction & Man Singh Road Junction between 7 am and 12 pm. Due to special traffic arrangements inwards movement of buses will be restricted in New Delhi beyond Gol Dak Khana Junction, Patel Chowk, Windsor Place, Teen Murti Chowk, Prithviraj Road, adds Delhi Traffic Police.

Good morning readers! Welcome to the live updates on National Herald case as Congress leader Rahul Gandhi will be questioned for the third day today

(Edited by : Priyanka Rathi)

First Published:Jun 15, 2022 9:00 AM IST