Congress workers climb ED office gate, raise slogans in Mumbai; booked

Several Congress workers staged a protest outside the Enforcement Directorate (ED) office in Ballard Pier area of south Mumbai on Saturday and climbed the gate of the agency`s office while raising slogans.

According to the police sources, a several Youth Congress workers gathered near the ED office at around 3 pm on Saturday and began to raise slogans against the central government, the protesters opened the main gate of the office premises and attempted to enter. With no police personnel present at the time, the protesters managed to place a large lock on the gate before dispersing.

The Youth Congress workers were protesting against ED investigations involving Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Sonia Gandhi in the National Herald case.

The Congress has been accusing the BJP-led Centre of `weaponising` the ED against their senior leaders and the party has been holding protests for several days, expressing strong opposition to the ED’s action against its top leaders, particularly after the agency filed a chargesheet in the National Herald case. But, this marks the first time such an act of protest has been carried out at the ED office.

Responding to the incident, Mumbai Police issued an official statement and said, “Around 15–20 protesters staged an agitation at the ED office at around 3 pm on Saturday. The office was closed due to a holiday, and the security guard had already secured the gate with a chain. An offence is being registered at MRA Marg Police Station, and further necessary action is being taken.”

Police investigations are ongoing to identify those involved in the protest.