NEW DELHI: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Tuesday filed chargesheet against Congress leaders Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi in connection to the National Herald case . Congress leaders Sam Pitroda and Suman Dubey have also been named as accused in the chargesheet.
The party reacted sharply to the move terming it a "state-sponsored crime".
The chargesheet was submitted on April, and was reviewed by Special Judge Vishal Gogne, to consider whether to take cognisance of the case. The next hearing is scheduled on April 25.
"The present prosecution complaint shall next be taken up for consideration on the aspect of cognisance before this court on April 25, 2025 when the special counsel for the ED and IO shall also ensure the production of the case diaries for perusal by the court," the judge said, as quoted by PTI.
Congress leader Jairam Ramesh took to social media platform X and wrote: "Seizing the assets of the National Herald is a state-sponsored crime masquerading as the rule of law. Filing chargesheets against Smt. Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi, and some others is nothing but the politics of vendetta and intimidation by the PM and the HM gone completely berserk."
"The INC and its leadership will not be silenced. Satyameva Jayate," he added.
This comes days after the agency had began proceedings to take possession of properties worth over Rs 700 crore belonging to the Associated Journals Limited (AJL), a company linked to both Rahul and Sonia.
The assets consist of prime properties in Delhi, Mumbai, and Lucknow, including the iconic Herald House on Bahadur Shah Zafar Marg in the national capital.
Also read: ED begins process to seize assets worth Rs 700cr tied to Congress
AJL, the publisher of National Herald, is owned by Young Indian Private Limited. Sonia and Rahul Gandhi each hold a 38% stake in the company, making them the majority shareholders.
The Enforcement Directorate clarified that this action is part of its investigation into the AJL money laundering case, carried out under Section 8 of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002, and the relevant provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering (Taking Possession of Attached or Frozen Properties) Rules, 2013.
Earlier today, businessman Robert Vadra arrived at the ED office after he was summoned by the agency in connection with a money laundering investigation related to a land deal in Shikohpur, Haryana.
Also read: Robert Vadra at ED office after fresh summons
Vadra arrived at the ED office accompanied by a group of supporters who raised slogans against the government, accusing it of misusing investigative agencies. He dismissed the allegations, calling them politically motivated, and claimed he was being targeted for speaking out on public issues.
Vadra said that he had already been summoned multiple times over the years and had nothing to hide. The case concerns a 2008 land transaction where Vadra’s firm, Skylight Hospitality, bought nearly three acres in Gurgaon, later sold to DLF for Rs 58 crore after receiving approval for commercial development.
"We told the ED we were organising our documents, I am always ready to be here. I hope there's a conclusion today. There is nothing in the case... When I speak in favor of the country, I am stopped, Rahul is stopped from speaking in the Parliament. BJP is doing it. This is a political vendetta. People love me and want me to join politics... When I express my willingness to join politics, they bring up old issues to bring me down and divert from the real issues... There is nothing in the case. I have been summoned 15 times and interrogated for more than 10 hours every time for the last 20 years. Organising 23000 documents is not easy," he had said.
The party reacted sharply to the move terming it a "state-sponsored crime".
The chargesheet was submitted on April, and was reviewed by Special Judge Vishal Gogne, to consider whether to take cognisance of the case. The next hearing is scheduled on April 25.
"The present prosecution complaint shall next be taken up for consideration on the aspect of cognisance before this court on April 25, 2025 when the special counsel for the ED and IO shall also ensure the production of the case diaries for perusal by the court," the judge said, as quoted by PTI.
Congress leader Jairam Ramesh took to social media platform X and wrote: "Seizing the assets of the National Herald is a state-sponsored crime masquerading as the rule of law. Filing chargesheets against Smt. Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi, and some others is nothing but the politics of vendetta and intimidation by the PM and the HM gone completely berserk."
"The INC and its leadership will not be silenced. Satyameva Jayate," he added.
Seizing the assets of the National Herald is a state-sponsored crime masquerading as the rule of law.
— Jairam Ramesh (@Jairam_Ramesh) April 15, 2025
Filing chargesheets against Smt. Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi, and some others is nothing but the politics of vendetta and intimidation by the PM and the HM gone completely…
This comes days after the agency had began proceedings to take possession of properties worth over Rs 700 crore belonging to the Associated Journals Limited (AJL), a company linked to both Rahul and Sonia.
The assets consist of prime properties in Delhi, Mumbai, and Lucknow, including the iconic Herald House on Bahadur Shah Zafar Marg in the national capital.
Also read: ED begins process to seize assets worth Rs 700cr tied to Congress
AJL, the publisher of National Herald, is owned by Young Indian Private Limited. Sonia and Rahul Gandhi each hold a 38% stake in the company, making them the majority shareholders.
The Enforcement Directorate clarified that this action is part of its investigation into the AJL money laundering case, carried out under Section 8 of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002, and the relevant provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering (Taking Possession of Attached or Frozen Properties) Rules, 2013.
Earlier today, businessman Robert Vadra arrived at the ED office after he was summoned by the agency in connection with a money laundering investigation related to a land deal in Shikohpur, Haryana.
Also read: Robert Vadra at ED office after fresh summons
Vadra arrived at the ED office accompanied by a group of supporters who raised slogans against the government, accusing it of misusing investigative agencies. He dismissed the allegations, calling them politically motivated, and claimed he was being targeted for speaking out on public issues.
Vadra said that he had already been summoned multiple times over the years and had nothing to hide. The case concerns a 2008 land transaction where Vadra’s firm, Skylight Hospitality, bought nearly three acres in Gurgaon, later sold to DLF for Rs 58 crore after receiving approval for commercial development.
"We told the ED we were organising our documents, I am always ready to be here. I hope there's a conclusion today. There is nothing in the case... When I speak in favor of the country, I am stopped, Rahul is stopped from speaking in the Parliament. BJP is doing it. This is a political vendetta. People love me and want me to join politics... When I express my willingness to join politics, they bring up old issues to bring me down and divert from the real issues... There is nothing in the case. I have been summoned 15 times and interrogated for more than 10 hours every time for the last 20 years. Organising 23000 documents is not easy," he had said.
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