ED Files Complaint Against Sonia & Rahul in National Herald Money Laundering Case
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 ED’s move comes after an initial complaint was filed by Subramanian Swamy, a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader, in 2013. Swamy had alleged that the Gandhis and other Congress leaders had indulged in corrupt practices and misused their position to grab the assets of the National Herald newspaper.
The National Herald was a leading Indian newspaper that was founded in 1938. It was also the official organ of the Indian National Congress. However, in 2008, the newspaper’s assets were allegedly taken over by Young Indian, a company that was incorporated by the Congress leadership.
The ED had launched an investigation into the matter in 2016, following a complaint by Swamy. The investigation revealed that Young Indian had allegedly taken over the assets of the National Herald through a series of fraudulent transactions.
The ED had also seized several documents and records related to the case, including bank statements, property records, and other financial documents. The agency had also questioned several witnesses and obtained statements from them.
The prosecution complaint filed by the ED alleges that Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi, and Sam Pitroda were involved in the fraudulent takeover of the National Herald assets. The complaint also alleges that the trio had misused their position and influence to grab the assets of the newspaper.
The complaint further alleges that Young Indian had allegedly taken over the assets of the National Herald by manipulating the company’s balance sheet and hiding its true financial position. The agency has also alleged that the company had made false and misleading statements to the income tax authorities and had concealed its true financial position.
The ED has sought to summon Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi, and Sam Pitroda as accused in the case and has also sought to confiscate their assets, including the properties seized by the agency.
The Congress party has denied any wrongdoing and has termed the ED’s move as a political vendetta. The party has also demanded that the ED should provide evidence of the alleged wrongdoing and should not make baseless allegations against the Gandhis.
The ED’s move has sparked a political controversy, with the Congress party accusing the BJP-led government of using the ED to settle political scores. The Congress has also demanded that the government should not use the ED as a tool for political vendetta.
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has, however, defended the ED’s action and has claimed that the agency has acted impartially and in accordance with the law. The party has also claimed that the ED’s move is a major blow to the Congress party and its leadership.
The case is likely to be heard in court soon, with the ED seeking to summon the accused and confiscate their assets. The case has significant implications for the Congress party and its leadership, and is likely to dominate the political discourse in the coming days.
In conclusion, the ED’s filing of a prosecution complaint against Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi, and Sam Pitroda in connection with the National Herald money laundering case is a significant development that has sparked a political controversy. The case has significant implications for the Congress party and its leadership, and is likely to dominate the political discourse in the coming days.
