 "Congress Interim President Sonia Gandhi with party leader Rahul Gandhi, Karnataka party president DK Shivakumar and Leader of Opposition in State Assembly Siddaramaiah takes part in the party's Bharat Jodo Yatra, in Mandya on Thursday.")
The Enforcement Directorate on Tuesday said it has filed a chargesheet against Congress leaders Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi in a money laundering case related to the National Herald newspaper, PTI reported.
The chargesheet, which was filed on April 9, also names Congress leaders Sam Pitroda and Suman Dubey as co-accused. ED has filed it under Sections 3 (money laundering) and 4 (punishment for money laundering) of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).
Special judge Vishal Gogne examined the chargesheet and posted the matter for hearing on April 25.
The development comes two days after the ED initiated proceedings to take possession of immovable assets valued at ₹661 crore linked to Congress-controlled National Herald newspaper and the Associated Journals Limited (AJL). The investigative agency also stated that it had served notices to property registrars in Delhi, Mumbai, and Lucknow on April 11 directing them to take over AJL assets under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).
Politics of vendetta, says Congress
Congress leader Jairam Ramesh responded to the chargesheet by terming it as 'politics of vendetta' and intimidation by the prime minister and the home minister.
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"Seizing the assets of the National Herald is a state-sponsored crime masquerading as the rule of law. Filing chargesheets against Smt. Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi, and some others is nothing but the politics of vendetta and intimidation by the PM and the HM gone completely berserk. The INC and its leadership will not be silenced," Ramesh posted on X.
Seizing the assets of the National Herald is a state-sponsored crime masquerading as the rule of law. Filing chargesheets against Smt. Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi, and some others is nothing but the politics of vendetta and intimidation by the PM and the HM gone completely…
— Jairam Ramesh (@Jairam_Ramesh) April 15, 2025
What is the National Herald case?
The National Herald case centres on the acquisition of properties valued at over ₹2,000 crore by Associated Journals Limited (AJL), the publisher of the National Herald newspaper. These assets were taken over by a company called Young Indian, in which Congress leaders Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi each hold a 38 per cent stake.
The case originates from a 2014 complaint filed by BJP leader Subramanian Swamy that has been upheld by both the Delhi High Court and the Supreme Court. Both Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi are currently on bail since 2015 in the same case.
The ED is probing allegations that AJL’s properties were acquired for a mere ₹50 lakh — far below their actual value. The investigation also covers claims of fake donations and rent agreements worth crores being used to create bogus proceeds and launder money.
In November 2023, the ED attached these properties as part of a larger probe involving alleged money laundering by the Congress leadership.
In an unrelated case, the ED on Tuesday summoned businessman Robert Vadra, brother-in-law of Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi, for questioning in connection with a money laundering investigation related to a Haryana land deal.
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