National Herald: Delhi court reserves cognisance order in ED case against Gandhis 

A Delhi court on Monday reserved its order on whether to take cognisance of the Enforcement Directorate’s (ED) money laundering charges against Congress leaders Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi, and five others in the National Herald case.

Special Judge (PC Act) Vishal Gogne at Rouse Avenue Courts said the order would be pronounced on July 29. Apart from the Gandhis, the ED has named Sam Pitroda, Suman Dubey, Sunil Bhandari, Young Indian, and Dotex Merchandise as accused in its prosecution complaint filed on April 15 this year.

The case revolves around the alleged laundering of proceeds of crime linked to the acquisition of Associated Journals Limited (AJL) — publisher of the National Herald newspaper — by Young Indian, a company where Sonia and Rahul Gandhi reportedly hold a majority stake.

According to the ED, AJL’s assets worth over ₹2,000 crore were illegally taken over by Young Indian under the pretext of clearing its debts. The agency alleges this was part of a criminal conspiracy to gain control over AJL’s properties and the rental income they generated — treating the alleged benefits as proceeds of crime under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).

The Gandhis have denied the allegations, contending there is no evidence of personal financial gain or illegal projection of property as untainted — an essential criterion under PMLA. They maintain Young Indian’s objective was solely to help AJL become debt-free.

The origins of the case trace back to a private complaint filed by former Union Minister Subramanian Swamy, accusing the Gandhis, the late Motilal Vora, Oscar Fernandes, and others of cheating, criminal breach of trust, conspiracy, and misappropriation of property.

The court will now decide if there is enough prima facie material to formally summon the accused under money laundering charges.