National Herald case: Delhi court issues notice to Congress leaders Rahul, Sonia Gandhi

Congress leaders Sonia and Rahul Gandhi. (File photo/PTI)

Delhi's Rouse Avenue Court on Friday issued notice to Congress leaders Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi, and others on a chargesheet filed against them by the Enforcement Directorate in connection with the National Herald money laundering case.

While fixing the next date on May 8, 2025, the court stated that Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi, and other proposed accused have the "right to be heard" at the time of cognisance of the chargesheet, according to ANI.

Further, the court stated that the right to be heard at any stage is essential to ensuring a fair trial, reinforcing the necessity of issuing the notice.

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) had filed a chargesheet on April 9 against Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi and others in connection with alleged money laundering in the National Herald case.

The probe agency has named former Congress president Sonia Gandhi as accused number 1 and her son, Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi, as accused number 2 in its prosecution complaint.

The charges were filed under various sections of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).

The chargesheet also names Congress associates Suman Dubey and Sam Pitroda, the companies Young Indian and Dotex Merchandise Private Limited, and Sunil Bhandari of Dotex Merchandise as accused.

The agency has sought punishment for the accused under Section 4 of the PMLA, which provides for a jail term of up to seven years.

What is the National Herald case?

ED began its investigation in 2021 following a magistrate court’s cognisance of a private complaint lodged by BJP leader Subramanian Swamy on June 26, 2014.

According to the agency, the complaint alleged a “criminal conspiracy” involving key Congress figures—including Sonia Gandhi, her son and MP Rahul Gandhi, and the late party leaders Motilal Vora and Oscar Fernandes—along with Suman Dubey, Sam Pitroda, and a private company called Young Indian.

The ED has accused them of laundering money in connection with the alleged fraudulent acquisition of assets worth over ₹2,000 crore belonging to Associated Journals Limited (AJL).

Sonia and Rahul Gandhi are majority stakeholders in Young Indian, each holding a 38% share. Both leaders were earlier summoned and questioned by the ED for several hours as part of the ongoing investigation.

(With inputs from PTI)