Rouse Avenue Court has directed that every proposed accused in the National Herald money-laundering case receive copies of the Enforcement Case Information Report of 30 June 2021 and the complaint filed by Subramanian Swamy in July 2014. The court stressed that these documents were already on record, and the order serves to ensure full compliance.
Special Judge Vishal Gogne said the current proceedings were strictly to verify that the earlier court direction—mandating the submission of these documents to all accused—has been fulfilled. The judge added that the accused may now raise any formal objections or arguments concerning the documents.
Legal representatives for Dotex Merchandise Pvt Ltd contested that their client’s name does not appear either in the ECIR or in Swamy’s complaint. The matter has been slated for further hearings on 26 September when clarifications will be addressed.
The National Herald case implicates Congress leaders Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi among others. They are among those accused in a case brought by the Enforcement Directorate alleging that Young Indian misappropriated assets formerly belonging to Associated Journals Limited, the publisher of the National Herald newspaper. Some assets are alleged to be worth about ₹2,000 crore.
The court had earlier reserved its decision on whether to take cognisance of the ED’s prosecution complaint. That order remains pending as the court examines the ECIR, Swamy’s complaint, and related materials.
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