ED Files Prosecution Complaint Against Rahul, Sonia Gandhi In National Herald Case
The ED served notices to property registrars in the three cities in connection with properties of Associated Journals Ltd (AJL), which owns National Herald, on April 11 for alleged money laundering.
National Herald Case: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has filed its first chargesheet against Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi, Sonia Gandhi, and Sam Pitroda in connection with a money laundering probe linked to party-controlled National Herald newspaper and the Associated Journals Limited (AJL).
The ED chargesheet also names several others, including Suman Dubey. The matter is slated to be heard before a special PMLA court in Delhi on April 25 for arguments. The Congress has called for a nationwide protest on April 16 (Wednesday) in protest against the ED’s chargesheet.
related stories
“A fresh prosecution complaint under sections 44 and 45 of Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) 2002 for commission of offence of money laundering as defined under section 3 read with section 70 and punishable under section 4 of PMLA, 2002 filed by the ED, has been received by way of assignment," read the special judge’s order.
Reacting to this, Congress leader Jairam Ramesh said the chargesheets against Rahul Gandhi were “nothing but the politics of vendetta and intimidation by the PM and the HM gone completely berserk." He also called the ED’s move to seize assets of the National Herald a “state-sponsored crime".
Seizing the assets of the National Herald is a state-sponsored crime masquerading as the rule of law.Filing chargesheets against Smt. Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi, and some others is nothing but the politics of vendetta and intimidation by the PM and the HM gone completely…
— Jairam Ramesh (@Jairam_Ramesh) April 15, 2025
The ED’s probe, which began in 2021, stems from a complaint filed by BJP leader Subramanian Swamy in 2014 before a Delhi court. The complaint has alleged that a criminal conspiracy was hatched by several prominent political figures, including Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi, and a host of other Congress leaders and a private company Young Indian for alleged involvement in a money laundering scheme related to the fraudulent takeover of properties valued over Rs 2,000 crore belonging to AJL, which publishes the National Herald newspaper.
The ED investigation has revealed that Young Indian, which owns the newspaper and is beneficially owned by Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi, acquired AJL properties for a mere Rs 50 Lakh, significantly undervaluing its worth. Despite legal challenges, the Delhi High Court and the Supreme Court allowed the investigation to proceed.
In November 2023, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) attached immovable properties valued at Rs 661 crore, along with shares of Associated Journals Limited (AJL) worth Rs 90.2 crore. This action was taken to safeguard the alleged proceeds of crime and to stop the accused from disposing of these assets. As per the ED, the total value of the suspected proceeds of crime in the case amounts to Rs 988 crore.
ED Issues Notices, Congress Decries ‘Political Vendetta’
On April 11, the probe agency said it has issued notices to property registrars in Delhi, Mumbai, and Lucknow, where the immovable assets worth Rs 661 crore linked to the National Herald are located. The action was taken under Section (8) and Rule 5(1) of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).
A separate notice was issued to Jindal South West Projects, the current occupant of three floors in Herald House, Mumbai. The company has been directed to deposit all future rent payments directly with the ED. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) defended the agency’s decision and said the Congress must answer for alleged financial irregularities.
The Congress slammed the decision, calling it a “baseless" move driven by political vendetta and accusing the BJP of using the PMLA to silence political opponents. “The Modi government has decided to squeeze its political opponents, and they are doing everything that is possible. PMLA does not apply to this case," said Congress leader Pawan Bansal.
Rajya Sabha MP Kapil Sibal accused the government of trying to “paralyse" the Congress party and said ED’s action was an “assault on democracy". Sibal also said the National Herald was set up way back by the freedom fighters, who were shareholders in the newspaper which was meant to spread the message of freedom and India being together and moving forward.
- Location :
- First Published: