ED stopped in National Herald case

A Delhi Court on Tuesday refused to take cognisance of the Enforcement Directorate’s (ED) money laundering charges in the National Herald case. The agency has accused Congress leaders Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi, as well as late party leaders Motilal Vora and Oscar Fernandes, along with Suman Dubey, Sam Pitroda, and a private company, Young Indian, of conspiracy and money laundering.

Citing lack of FIR by other agencies, the court noted that taking cognisance of the ED case is impermissible in law. The ED chargesheet in the case is based on a complaint by a private person and not on an FIR of a predicate offence, the judge said.

Reading out the operative part from the order, the judge said the Delhi Police’s Economic Offences Wing has already lodged an FIR in the case, and hence it will be premature to adjudicate on ED’s arguments in the case. The ED said it would file an appeal against the court order.

Based on the private case of BJP leader Subramanian Swamy, the ED chargesheeted that Sonia and Rahul Gandhi controlled firm Young Indian acquired properties worth approximately Rs 2,000 crore belonging to Associated Journals Limited (AJL), which publishes the National Herald newspaper.

ED agency further alleged that the Gandhis held the majority 76 per cent shares in Young Indian, which “fraudulently” usurped the assets of AJL in exchange for a Rs 90 crore loan.

“Since the present prosecution complaint pertaining to the offence money laundering is founded on cognisance and summoning order upon a complaint under Section 200 CrPC filed by a public person, namely Dr Subramanian Swamy, and not upon an FIR, cognizance of the present complaint is impermissible in law,” the Court ruled.

Later, the Court set aside a Magisterial court’s order directing the Delhi Police to provide a copy of an FIR registered by them against Rahul Gandhi and Sonia Gandhi in connection with the National Herald case.

Special Judge Vishal Gogne was hearing a plea filed by the Delhi Police, challenging the magisterial court’s order, arguing that Rahul Gandhi, Sonia Gandhi and others mentioned in the case are not entitled to a copy of the FIR. The judge, however, ruled that the accused may be informed that the FIR has been registered.

Congress slams Government

The Congress on Tuesday claimed vindication after a court refused to take cognisance of the Enforcement Directorate’s chargesheet in the National Herald money laundering case against party leaders Rahul Gandhi, Sonia Gandhi, and others.

The opposition party described the ruling as exposing the “illegality” and “politically motivated prosecution” of the Narendra Modi Government.

In a statement, Congress said the court ruled that the ED case lacked jurisdiction and an FIR, rendering the proceedings “completely illegal and mala fide.” The party asserted that over the past decade, these charges had been part of a “political witch hunt” aimed at defaming the National Herald, Congress leadership, and the party itself. Congress emphasised that no case of money laundering, no proceeds of crime, and no property movement had been established.

Party president Mallikarjun Kharge highlighted the resilience of Congress, noting that if the party had not feared the British, it would not be intimidated by current political opponents. The development is being viewed as a legal and moral boost for the Congress ahead of upcoming political battles, reinforcing its position that the ED case was a politically motivated campaign against the principal opposition party.