National Herald Case: ED Files Chargesheet Against Sonia & Rahul Gandhi – A Political Storm Brews
the Enforcement Directorate (ED) has filed a chargesheet against senior Congress leaders Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi. This is related to the well-known National Herald money laundering case.
What’s the Case All About?
At the heart of the controversy lies Associated Journals Limited (AJL)—the publisher of the now-defunct National Herald newspaper. Allegedly, properties worth over Rs. 2,000 crores were misappropriated through Young Indian Pvt Ltd, a company in which Sonia and Rahul Gandhi each hold a 38% stake.
The ED claims that only Rs. 50 lakh was paid in exchange for 99% shares in AJL, allowing the accused to gain control of valuable real estate and other assets. The current estimated value of assets linked to this case stands at Rs. 5,000 crores, according to sources.
The genesis of the case goes back to 2014, when BJP leader Subramanian Swamy filed a private complaint alleging fraud, criminal conspiracy, and breach of trust. This complaint named Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi, and others like Motilal Vora, Oscar Fernandes, Sam Pitroda, and Suman Dubey as accused.
The Legal Milestone
The ED submitted the chargesheet on April 9th before Special Judge Vishal Gogne. Sonia Gandhi has been listed as Accused No. 1 (A-1), and Rahul Gandhi as Accused No. 2 (A-2). Other corporate entities like young indian, Dotex Merchandise Pvt Ltd have also been included in the list of accused.
The chargesheet outlines alleged illegal cash transactions worth Rs. 988 crores, including bogus rents (Rs. 38 crore) and fake advertising revenues (Rs. 29 crore). These findings fall under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), Sections 3 and 4.
The next hearing has been scheduled after 25 days, and ED has reportedly sought action against all individuals and companies mentioned.
Congress Reacts: “This is Political Vendetta”
The Congress party has vehemently denied all allegations, calling the ED’s move a “government-sponsored witch hunt.” Senior Congress leader Abhishek Manu Singhvi accused the Modi-led government of targeting opposition leaders without any solid evidence of financial misconduct.
Congress General Secretary Jairam Ramesh called the confiscation of assets an “abuse of power,” while KC Venugopal announced nationwide protests, including demonstrations at ED offices and central government offices across states.
BJP Responds: “Time to Pay Back”
On the other hand, the BJP welcomed the chargesheet, calling it a step towards justice. BJP spokesperson Anil Baluni didn’t hold back, branding the Nehru-Gandhi family as the most corrupt political dynasty. Another party representative, Shehzad Poonawala, stated that this investigation is not politically motivated, but court-directed and legally mandated.
Meanwhile, More Trouble for Congress?
The ED also questioned Robert Vadra, businessman and husband of Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi, in a separate money laundering case related to real estate deals. With multiple financial investigations now zeroing in on the Gandhi family, the political pressure is mounting ahead of key state and national elections.