ED Files Prosecution Complaint Against Sonia Gandhi & Rahul Gandhi In National Herald Case

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

Special Judge (PC Act) Vishal Gogne of the Rouse Avenue Courts posted the matter next on April 25 for consideration of cognisance.

"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. Let the complaint be checked and registered," the Court said.

The controversy centers around the acquisition of Associated Journals Limited (AJL), the publisher of the now-defunct National Herald newspaper. In 2010, a newly formed company, Young Indian Pvt Ltd (YIL), acquired AJL's debts from the Indian National Congress for ₹50 lakh. Subsequently, YIL took control of AJL's assets, which were valued at over ₹2,000 crore. Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi held a majority stake in YIL, leading to allegations that they used party funds to gain control of AJL's valuable properties.

​The ED's investigation, initiated in 2014, focused on the financial transactions between the Congress party, AJL, and YIL. The agency alleges that the Gandhis and other Congress leaders engaged in a scheme to misappropriate AJL's assets for personal gain. Recently, the ED has moved to take possession of properties linked to AJL, valued at approximately ₹661 crore, under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).

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