ED Charges Sonia, Rahul Gandhi in National Herald Case

National Herald Case: In a money laundering case involving the National Herald newspaper, the Enforcement Directorate has filed a chargesheet against Congress leaders Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi, according to a media report of April 15. The chargesheet lists the two leaders as the first and second accused, respectively.

In the purported National Herald money laundering case, the central investigative agency has reportedly filed a criminal complaint against Congress Members. The Parliament members Rahul Gandhi, Sonia Gandhi, and Congress Overseas Chief Sam Pitroda in Delhi’s Rouse Avenue Court are in the complaint. It is also reported that Suman Dubey and others are also mentioned in the chargesheet. The court has scheduled the hearing on April 25th.

Complaint Charges:
According to Sections 44 and 45 of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002. A prosecution case has been filed for the commission of money laundering. This is defined by Section 3 read with Section 70 of the PMLA, 2002, and is penalized by Section 4.

What is the National Herald Case?
This case was started after Subramaniam Swamy filed a complaint in 2014, accusing Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi. In this complaint, other congress leaders for taking over AJL properties for a mere sum of 50 lakhs.

Over ₹2,000 crore is the value of the properties. In 2022, Sonia and Rahul were both questioned as part of the investigation. Young Indian Private Limited owns Associated Journals Limited (AJL), the company that publishes the National Herald. In this, the principal shareholders are Sonia and Rahul Gandhi, who each own 38% of the company. This private company, which is being investigated by the ED. For allegedly paying ₹50 lakh to acquire AJL and its assets against a purported loan from the Congress, which is primarily owned by Sonia and Rahul.

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The ED served notices to seize immovable properties valued at ₹661 crore in Delhi, Mumbai, and Lucknow on April 12. This was as part of a money laundering investigation connected to the Associated Journals Limited (AJL) and the National Herald newspaper. In a PMLA lawsuit against AJL, the publisher of the National Herald, and Young Indian, the newspaper’s owner. The ED had already attached these properties with a provisional attachment order.