By Our Reporter
SHILLONG, Dec 17: The Meghalaya Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC) on Wednesday held a protest meeting at the Congress Bhavan here, condemning what it described as the misuse of central investigative agencies by the BJP-led government to target political opponents, including the Gandhi family.
The protest followed an order passed on December 16, 2025, by the Special Court at Rouse Avenue, New Delhi, which refused to take cognisance of the Enforcement Directorate’s prosecution complaint in the National Herald case under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).
According to the MPCC, the court held that the ED’s complaint was not maintainable as it was not based on a valid predicate offence, which is a mandatory legal requirement for invoking provisions of the PMLA. The court also rejected reliance on a private complaint or subsequent procedural developments in the absence of a legally registered criminal offence.
The MPCC said the court declined to examine the allegations on merit, observing that the prosecution itself was unsustainable at the threshold stage. Party leaders said this amounted to a judicial rejection of the case at the outset.
Addressing party workers during the protest, MPCC leaders said the Congress party remained committed to democratic values, institutional integrity and the rule of law.
They reiterated that Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi had committed no wrongdoing and said there had been no personal enrichment, diversion of public funds or criminal gain.
The MPCC stated that the court order defeated attempts to intimidate the opposition through investigative agencies and raised concerns over the alleged erosion of institutional neutrality.
The party said it continued to place faith in the Constitution and the independence of the Judiciary, while focusing on issues such as unemployment, rising prices, agrarian distress and democratic accountability.
