Rahul Gandhi released six hours after detention

Indian Congress leader Rahul Gandhi was released by the Delhi Police almost over six hours after he was detained during his party's march from Parliament to Rashtrapati Bhawan, officials said yesterday. 

"They have been released," Deputy Commissioner of Police (New Delhi) Amrutha Gugolth said while responding to a query about the Congress party leaders' detention.

The Congress MPs carried out a protest march from the Parliament House to Rashtrapati Bhawan in wake of questioning of Congress interim president Sonia Gandhi by the Enforcement Directorate and no discussion on important issues like price rise in parliament.

However, as the parliamentarians moved forward to give a memorandum to President Droupadi Murmu, the Delhi Police stopped them midway near Vijay Chowk. Subsequently, the Congress parliamentarians, including Rahul Gandhi, sat in protest in front of the Vijay Chowk.

Rahul Gandhi and other party members, surrounded by dozens of police men, were protesting against issues ranging from inflation to the alleged targeting of opposition leaders.

After about an hour, he and several others were taken in a bus to a detention centre.

Earlier, Sonia Gandhi was questioned for six hours by the Enforcement Directorate, reported our New Delhi correspondent. She has been summoned again today for Round 3 of questioning.

The probe relates to alleged financial irregularities in the Congress-promoted Young Indian Private Limited which owns the now-defunct National Herald newspaper. The case against the Gandhis has been brought by Subramanian Swamy, a BJP politician who accuses them of misappropriating party funds to buy the firm.