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 pertains to the alleged fraudulent takeover of properties valued at ₹2,000 crore by Young Indian, a company linked to Sonia Gandhi.
The complaint was filed by the ED before the Special Court for Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) in Delhi, after completing its investigation into the case. The ED has accused the trio of money laundering and conspiracy to cheat the public and the government.
For those who may not be aware, the National Herald case originated in 2012 when BJP leader Subramanian Swamy filed a complaint against the Gandhis and others alleging that they had taken over the properties of Associate Journals Limited (AJL), the publisher of the National Herald newspaper, by fraudulent means.
The ED’s complaint alleges that Young Indian, a company promoted by Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi, had taken over the assets of AJL by manipulating the company’s share capital and manipulating the affairs of the company. The ED claims that this was done to benefit the Gandhis and their family members at the expense of the public and the government.
According to the ED, Young Indian had acquired 99% of the shares of AJL from the Congress party in 2010, and subsequently, the company’s assets were transferred to Young Indian. The ED claims that this was done without paying any consideration to AJL, and that the Gandhis and others had conspired to cheat the public and the government by taking over the assets of AJL.
The ED has also alleged that Young Indian had failed to pay dues worth ₹2,000 crore to AJL, and that the company had also failed to pay income tax and other dues to the government. The ED claims that the Gandhis and others had conspired to cheat the public and the government by taking over the assets of AJL and failing to pay the dues.
The ED’s complaint also alleges that the Gandhis and others had laundered the money obtained through the fraudulent takeover of AJL’s assets. The ED claims that the money was laundered through a complex web of transactions involving shell companies and benami accounts.
The ED has sought the court’s permission to attach the properties of the accused, including the assets of Young Indian, AJL, and the Gandhis. The ED has also sought the court’s permission to confiscate the accused’s assets and recover the alleged losses suffered by AJL and the government.
The BJP has welcomed the ED’s complaint, and has accused the Gandhis and others of corruption and money laundering. The Congress party, on the other hand, has denied any wrongdoing and has accused the BJP of politicizing the case.
The National Herald case is just the latest in a series of cases filed by the ED against the Gandhis and others. The ED has already filed cases against the Gandhis and others in connection with the AgustaWestland helicopter deal and the Aircel-Maxis deal.
The ED’s complaint in the National Herald case is a significant development, and it is likely to have far-reaching implications for the Gandhis and others. The case is likely to be closely watched by the public and the media, and it is likely to have a significant impact on the political landscape of the country.
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