National Herald money laundering case: ED files charge sheet against Sonia Gandhi, Rahul

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Tuesday filed a prosecution complaint against Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi, Sonia Gandhi and Sam Pitroda in the National Herald money laundering case.

The national agency filed the complaint under relevant Sections of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002.

Special Judge (PC Act) Vishal Gogne of the Rouse Avenue Courts today listed the case for hearing on April 25 for consideration on aspect of cognisance.

A case was registered against the Congress leaders and others on the basis of a private complaint filed by Bharatiya Janata Party leader Subramanian Swamy.

The complainant accused Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi, Motilal Vora, Oscar Fernandes, Suman Dubey, Sam Pitroda and Gandhi family-controlled Young Indian of cheating, criminal conspiracy, criminal breach of trust and misappropriation of property.

The national agency had served notices last week to take possession of immovable assets worth Rs 661 crore in Delhi, Mumbai and Lucknow, which had been attached as part of the money laundering probe against Associated Journals Limited (AJL), the publisher of National Herald and Young Indian, owner of the newspaper.

As per ED, Young Indian acquired AJL and its assets for Rs 50 lakh, although the properties were valued at over Rs 2,000 crore, against an alleged loan extended by the Congress party worth Rs 90 crore.

The two Congress leaders, who hold majority stakes in Young Indian, were earlier questioned in 2022 as part of the probe.