Fresh FIR filed against Sonia Gandhi, Rahul in National Herald case

Delhi Police’s Economic Offences Wing has filed a fresh FIR against Congress leaders Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi in the National Herald case, acting on a complaint routed through the Enforcement Directorate (ED).

The FIR, registered on October 3, deepens the long-running political and legal battle over the newspaper’s finances and the alleged takeover of its parent company.

The charges are part of a fresh First Information Report (FIR) filed against six people, including the Gandhis, by the Economic Offences Wing of the Delhi Police.

The FIR also names Sam Pitroda and three other individuals, along with three companies - Associated Journals Limited (AJL), Young Indian, and Dotex Merchandise Private Limited.

It alleges a criminal conspiracy to "fraudulently take over the Associated Journals Limited (AJL)", the parent company of the now-defunct National Herald newspaper.

Dotex, a Kolkata-based firm, has been described in earlier investigations as a shell entity that reportedly transferred Rs 1 crore to Young Indian, the company in which Sonia and Rahul are key stakeholders.

According to the FIR, the accused were involved in a criminal conspiracy to gain control of AJL, the company linked to the National Herald newspaper, by fraudulent means.

The allegations are based on a series of financial transactions through which Young Indian is said to have acquired control of AJL by paying the Congress party Rs 50 lakh, despite AJL’s assets being valued at nearly Rs 2,000 crore.

According to the probe, Rs 1 crore allegedly routed from Dotex to Young Indian played a crucial role in enabling this acquisition.

The FIR alleges that these transactions were designed to effectively transfer AJL’s vast properties spread across several prime locations, into the hands of Young Indian through unlawful methods.