The Enforcement Directorate has formally filed a prosecution complaint against Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi, marking a significant escalation in the National Herald money laundering investigation. The complaint, submitted to a special court in New Delhi on April 9, accuses the Congress leaders of orchestrating a complex financial scheme to acquire assets valued at approximately ₹5,000 crore through the acquisition of Associated Journals Limited via their not-for-profit entity, Young Indian.
The ED’s 200-page complaint outlines allegations that the Gandhis, as majority stakeholders in Young Indian, utilized the company to assume control over AJL, the publisher of the now-defunct National Herald newspaper. The agency contends that AJL had received an interest-free loan of ₹90.25 crore from the Congress party, which was subsequently written off. This maneuver allegedly enabled Young Indian to acquire AJL’s extensive real estate holdings across major cities, including New Delhi, Mumbai, and Lucknow, at a nominal cost.
In addition to Sonia and Rahul Gandhi, the complaint names Sam Pitroda, a former advisor to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, and Suman Dubey, a trustee of the Rajiv Gandhi Foundation, as co-accused. The ED asserts that these individuals played pivotal roles in facilitating the alleged financial misappropriations.
The case originated from a private complaint filed in 2012 by Bharatiya Janata Party leader Subramanian Swamy, who accused the Gandhis of fraud and land grabbing. Swamy alleged that Young Indian was established as a shell company to acquire AJL’s assets, which were intended for journalistic purposes, but were instead repurposed for commercial gain.
The ED’s investigation has been ongoing for several years, with both Sonia and Rahul Gandhi subjected to multiple rounds of questioning. In November 2023, the agency announced the attachment of properties worth ₹751.9 crore linked to the case. The current prosecution complaint builds upon these findings, asserting that the accused conspired to misappropriate public funds for personal enrichment.
The Congress party has vehemently denied the allegations, characterizing the investigation as a politically motivated vendetta aimed at undermining the opposition. Party spokesperson Jairam Ramesh stated that the charges are “a blatant misuse of investigative agencies to harass and intimidate political adversaries.”
Legal experts suggest that the filing of the prosecution complaint signifies the ED’s confidence in the strength of its case. The special court is scheduled to review the complaint on April 25 to determine whether to take cognizance and proceed with framing charges. If the court finds sufficient grounds, the accused could face trial under provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act .
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