Delhi court issues formal notices to Sonia and Rahul Gandhi in National Herald money laundering case
In a significant development, Delhi’s Rouse Avenue Court has issued formal notices to Congress leaders Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi in connection with the long-standing National Herald money laundering case. The case, which has been ongoing for over a decade, stems from allegations of financial irregularities and criminal conspiracy involving the now-defunct National Herald newspaper.
Judge Vishal Gogne, presiding over the case, stressed the importance of upholding the rights of the accused during judicial proceedings. “The right to be heard at any stage breathes life into a fair trial,” he remarked, setting the next hearing for 8 May.
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) initiated a formal investigation in 2021 after a private criminal complaint was filed by Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Subramanian Swamy in June 2014. The complaint alleged that senior Congress leaders, including Sonia and Rahul Gandhi, were involved in a criminal conspiracy related to the acquisition of Associated Journals Limited (AJL), the parent company of National Herald.
Central to the allegations is the creation of Young Indian, a not-for-profit entity in which Sonia and Rahul Gandhi reportedly own 38 per cent shares each. The ED claims that the structure of Young Indian was designed to gain indirect control of AJL’s valuable real estate assets, valued at over ₹2,000 crore.
According to the ED, the Congress party provided an unsecured loan of approximately ₹90 crore to AJL, which was then transferred to Young Indian for a mere ₹50 lakh. This transfer allegedly enabled Young Indian to take control of AJL and its assets, including prime properties in Delhi, Lucknow, and Mumbai. The ED asserts that this arrangement facilitated the laundering of around ₹988 crore.
The legal battle surrounding the National Herald case has captured significant attention, with the issuance of formal notices to Sonia and Rahul Gandhi marking a crucial development in the ongoing investigation. The next hearing is eagerly awaited as the case continues to unfold.
