ED Files Complaint Against Sonia & Rahul in National Herald Money Laundering Case
In a significant development, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) has filed a prosecution complaint in a Delhi court against Congress leaders Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi, and Sam Pitroda in connection with the alleged National Herald money laundering case. The case revolves around the alleged fraudulent takeover of properties valued at ₹2,000 crore by Young Indian, a company linked to Sonia Gandhi.
As per the ED’s complaint, Young Indian, a company incorporated in 2010, allegedly acquired the assets of Associated Journals Limited (AJL), which was the publisher of the National Herald newspaper, by paying just ₹50 lakh. The ED claims that this was a blatant case of money laundering, and the Gandhi family and their associates had siphoned off the assets of AJL to benefit themselves.
The ED’s complaint was filed before Special Judge Tushar Pandey, who has taken cognizance of the case and directed the ED to produce evidence against the accused. The court has also issued notices to Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi, and Sam Pitroda, asking them to appear before it on January 24.
The National Herald was founded by Jawaharlal Nehru, and it was a prominent newspaper in India during the pre-Independence era. After Independence, the newspaper was taken over by the Indian National Congress, and it continued to be published until it ceased operations in 2008.
The ED’s case is based on an initial complaint filed by Subramanian Swamy, a BJP leader and a prominent lawyer, in 2012. Swamy had alleged that Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi, and others had conspired to defraud AJL and transfer its assets to Young Indian.
The ED’s investigation, which began in 2013, has found that Young Indian was formed with the sole purpose of acquiring AJL’s assets. The agency has alleged that the Gandhi family and their associates used Young Indian to siphon off AJL’s assets, which included properties worth ₹2,000 crore.
The ED has also alleged that Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi, and Sam Pitroda were the key players in the alleged scam. The agency has claimed that Sonia Gandhi was the owner of Young Indian, while Rahul Gandhi was the chairman of the company. Sam Pitroda, a close associate of the Gandhi family, was allegedly involved in the alleged fraudulent takeover of AJL’s assets.
The ED’s complaint has cited various documents and evidence to support its allegations. The agency has claimed that Young Indian’s income-tax returns and balance sheets showed that the company had no income or assets of its own, but it had acquired AJL’s assets without paying any consideration.
The ED has also alleged that Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi, and Sam Pitroda had conspired to create a false impression that Young Indian was a legitimate company with no connection to the Gandhi family. The agency has claimed that the trio had used shell companies and fake documents to conceal the true nature of their transactions.
The National Herald money laundering case is a significant development in the ongoing political crisis in India. The case has raised questions about the Gandhi family’s financial dealings and their alleged involvement in corruption.
The Congress party has denied any wrongdoing by the Gandhi family and has accused the BJP-led government of using the ED to harass its leaders. However, the ED’s complaint has raised serious concerns about the alleged fraudulent takeover of AJL’s assets and the Gandhi family’s involvement in the scam.
The case is now pending before the Delhi court, and the ED will have to produce evidence to prove its allegations against the accused. The court will then decide whether to frame charges against Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi, and Sam Pitroda.
The National Herald money laundering case is a significant development in the ongoing political crisis in India, and it has raised questions about the Gandhi family’s financial dealings and their alleged involvement in corruption. The case will continue to be monitored closely by the media and the public, and it will be interesting to see how it unfolds in the coming months.
