ED Files Chargesheet Against Sonia And Rahul Gandhi In National Herald Money Laundering Case, Hearing Scheduled For 25 April

On Tuesday (15 April), the Enforcement Directorate (ED) lodged a chargesheet against Congress members of Parliament (MP) Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi in relation to the National Herald case.

President of Congress party's overseas unit, Sam Pitroda is also named in the chargesheet of the money laundering case. The special court has scheduled the hearing for 25 April, NDTV reported.

"The present prosecution complaint shall next be taken up for consideration, on the aspect of cognisance... when Special Counsel for the ED and the Investigating Officer shall also ensure production of the case diaries for perusal by the court," special judge Vishal Gogne said.

For Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi, this marks the initial instance of a chargesheet being filed against them.

The ED had distributed notices on Saturday to seize immovable properties valued at Rs 661 crore. These assets, which were attached in November 2023, were linked to the probe into money laundering allegations against the Congress-affiliated Associated Journals Limited (AJL).

The notifications requesting the evacuation of the premises were posted at properties located in Delhi, the Bandra region of Mumbai, and the AJL building on Bisheshwar Nath Road in Lucknow.

The probe into the case by the ED was initiated in 2021, following an order given on 26 June 2014, by the Metropolitan Magistrate Patiala House Courts in New Delhi. This case originates from a private complaint lodged by Subramanian Swamy of the BJP.

The accusation implicated a number of high-profile politicians, such as Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi, and various other leaders from the Congress party, as well as the private firm Young Indian. They were allegedly involved in a money laundering plot connected to the deceitful acquisition of properties worth more than Rs 2,000 crore owned by AJL.

Young Indian Private Limited, the owner of The National Herald, which is published by AJL, counts Congress leaders Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi among its majority shareholders. Each of them holds 38 per cent of the company's shares.