Fresh FIR against Rahul, Sonia in National Herald case

The Economic Offences Wing of the Delhi Police has filed a fresh FIR against Congress leaders Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi in the National Herald case on a complaint by the Enforcement Directorate (ED).

The FIR, registered on October 3, alleges a criminal conspiracy to "fraudulently take over the Associated Journals Limited", the parent company of the now-defunct National Herald newspaper.

The police have pressed charges under Sections 120B (criminal conspiracy), 403 (dishonest misappropriation of property), 406 (punishment for criminal breach of trust) and 420 (cheating) of the IPC in the FIR, which also names Sam Pitroda and three other individuals, along with three companies -- Associated Journals Limited, Young Indian and Dotex Merchandise Private Limited.

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 Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi are key stakeholders.

Dotex and the other two entities are also named as an accused in the ED chargesheet filed before a Delhi court in April. The court is yet to take its cognisance with the next date of hearing scheduled for December 16.

The FIR has taken cognisance of the allegations stated by the ED in a letter sent to the EOW on September 4. The contents of the ED communication are similar to what the central agency is understood to have stated in its chargesheet.

The ED had alleged in its chargesheet that a "criminal conspiracy" was orchestrated by several prominent political figures, including Sonia and Rahul, and a private company Young Indian for alleged involvement in a money laundering scheme related to the fraudulent takeover of properties valued over Rs 2,000 crore belonging to the AJL.