National

National Herald Case: ED Chargesheets Congress Leaders Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi

The Enforcement Directorate on Tuesday filed a chargesheet in the National Herald money laundering case, naming Congress leaders Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi as the primary accused.

The chargesheet, submitted on April 9, also includes senior Congress functionaries Sam Pitroda and Suman Dubey.

Special Judge Vishal Gogne reviewed the chargesheet and scheduled the matter for cognisance proceedings on April 25, 2025.

“The prosecution complaint will be reviewed for cognisance on April 25, 2025, during which the special counsel for the ED and the investigating officer will also present the case diaries for the court’s review,” the judge stated.

Properties Worth ₹661 Crore Targeted

In a major move, the ED has initiated the process to seize immovable properties worth ₹661 crore, allegedly linked to money laundering by Associated Journals Limited (AJL) — the company behind the National Herald newspaper.

The ED posted eviction and rent transfer notices at multiple AJL properties on April 12, including:

Herald House in Delhi’s ITO area
A property in Bandra, Mumbai
AJL’s building on Bisheshwar Nath Road in Lucknow

These actions fall under Section 8 and Rule 5(1) of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), which governs the seizure of assets confirmed by the adjudicating authority under the Act.

Background

The investigation stems from a 2014 complaint by Subramanian Swamy, who accused Congress leaders of unlawfully taking over AJL assets. According to Swamy’s complaint, Young Indian Pvt. Ltd., which now owns AJL, acquired the company for a mere ₹50 lakh, despite its real estate holdings allegedly being worth over ₹2,000 crore.

Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi each hold a 38% stake in Young Indian, making them the largest shareholders.

ED’s Allegations of Financial Misuse

In its chargesheet, the ED alleges that the AJL and Young Indian properties were used to generate proceeds of crime, including:

₹18 crore in bogus donations
₹38 crore in fictitious advance rent
₹29 crore through fake advertisements

The ED claims these financial activities were deliberately structured to launder money and conceal illicit gains using AJL’s real estate and brand name.

The court will now determine whether to take cognisance of the ED’s chargesheet on April 25. If accepted, this could pave the way for formal proceedings against the Gandhis and other named individuals.

This case continues to draw national attention as it involves high-profile political figures, massive financial irregularities, and a historically significant media institution.