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 is related 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 BJP leader Subramanian Swamy in 2012, alleging that the Gandhis and other Congress leaders had conspired to usurp the assets of the National Herald newspaper, which was founded by Jawaharlal Nehru, India’s first Prime Minister.
The ED’s complaint, filed in the Rouse Avenue Court in Delhi, accuses Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi, and Sam Pitroda of conspiring to launder money and misappropriate the assets of the National Herald newspaper. The agency claims that Young Indian, a company owned by the Congress leaders, had taken over the assets of the newspaper in 2010 by issuing a series of dubious loans to Associated Journals Limited (AJL), the publisher of the National Herald.
The ED’s complaint alleges that the loans were never repaid, and instead, Young Indian took control of the AJL’s assets, including prime properties in Delhi and other cities. The agency claims that the total value of the assets taken over is estimated to be around ₹2,000 crore.
The ED’s action is seen as a major blow to the Gandhi family, who have been at the centre of the controversy for several years. The case has been ongoing since 2012, with the ED conducting several searches and seizures, including raids on the offices and residences of the Gandhi family.
The ED’s complaint is based on the allegations made by Subramanian Swamy in 2012, who claimed that the Gandhis had conspired to take over the National Herald newspaper and its assets. Swamy had filed a complaint with the Delhi Police, alleging that the Gandhis had committed forgery, cheating, and criminal conspiracy by transferring the assets of the newspaper to Young Indian.
The case has been dogged by controversy, with the Gandhi family and other Congress leaders denying any wrongdoing. In 2017, the Delhi High Court had dismissed a plea by the Gandhis to quash the investigation, paving the way for the ED to continue its probe.
The ED’s complaint is the latest development in the case, which is seen as a major embarrassment for the Congress party. The party has been accused of using the National Herald newspaper as a tool to promote its ideology and to attack its political opponents.
The case is also seen as a test of the ED’s powers to investigate and prosecute high-profile cases involving politicians and business leaders. The agency has been criticized in the past for its slow pace of investigations and its reluctance to take on powerful political figures.
The ED’s complaint is likely to intensify the political controversy surrounding the Gandhi family, with the Congress party likely to demand a thorough investigation into the allegations. The case is also expected to have implications for the 2024 general elections, with the BJP likely to use it to attack the Congress party and its leaders.
In a statement, the ED said that it had filed the complaint under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) and the Indian Penal Code (IPC). The agency has accused Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi, and Sam Pitroda of conspiring to launder money and misappropriate the assets of the National Herald newspaper.
The ED’s complaint is based on the investigation conducted by the agency, which has seized several documents and records related to the case. The agency has also examined several witnesses, including former employees of the AJL and Young Indian.
The case is likely to be heard in the coming weeks, with the ED seeking to proceed with the prosecution of the Gandhi family and Sam Pitroda. The case is expected to be a long and complex one, with the ED and the prosecution seeking to present evidence of the alleged money laundering and misappropriation of assets.
News Source:
https://x.com/ANI/status/1912118157457645937
