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ED has officially charged Sonia and Rahul Gandhi in a money laundering case related to the National Herald. This marks a significant development as it is the first time both leaders have been implicated in such a case.
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has filed its first-ever charge sheet against former Congress President Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi, the Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha. This charge sheet pertains to a money laundering investigation involving the National Herald newspaper, which is run by the Congress party. According to sources, the investigation is centered around the financial dealings of the newspaper, with the ED accusing the leaders of being involved in illicit activities. This development marks a significant moment in the ongoing probe into the party’s affairs.
On April 9, a charge sheet was filed before a Delhi court, naming Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi as accused number 1 and 2, respectively. The charges are under sections 3 and 4 of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), which pertain to money laundering and its associated penalties, as well as section 70, which deals with offences committed by companies. If proven, these charges could result in a maximum imprisonment of seven years.
Besides the Gandhis, other founding directors of Young Indian Private Limited (YI) include Sam Pitroda, the head of Congress’ international arm, and Suman Dubey, a former journalist and close confidant of the Gandhis. Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi together hold a 76% stake in the company, which, along with the company itself, has also been named as an accused party, according to sources.
Kolkata-Based Dotex Merchandise Pvt Ltd and Sunil Bhandari Named in Charge Sheet
In a significant development, Dotex Merchandise Pvt Ltd, a private company based in Kolkata, along with its office bearer Sunil Bhandari, has been named in a charge sheet. The case is being overseen by the special judge for MP/MLA cases at Rouse Avenue Courts. According to the court order obtained by HT, the charge sheet is scheduled to be taken up for cognizance on April 25.
Congress Slams Charge Sheet as Political Vendetta and Intimidation by PM and HM
In a strong response to the recent charge sheet, Congress has condemned it as a clear case of “political vendetta” and “intimidation” by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah.
The party has argued that the action of seizing assets of the National Herald is nothing more than a “state-sponsored crime” disguised as the rule of law. Congress leader Jairam Ramesh took to X (formerly Twitter) to express his party’s disapproval, stating that the filing of charge sheets against prominent leaders such as Smt. Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi, and others represents a dangerous escalation of political tactics aimed at silencing opposition.
“This is nothing but the politics of vendetta and intimidation gone completely berserk by the PM and HM,” Ramesh wrote, emphasizing that the actions are part of a broader campaign to undermine the Congress leadership.
Sonia and Rahul Gandhi: ED Issues Notices and Attaches Assets in National Herald Case
In a significant development in the ongoing National Herald case, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) has issued notices to seize the immovable assets of Associated Journals Ltd. (AJL), the publisher of National Herald, and Young Indian (YI). This move follows the filing of the charge sheet on April 11, 2025. The total value of the assets, including the National Herald house in Delhi, is estimated at ₹661 crore.
This action is part of the broader investigation into the alleged financial irregularities surrounding the Gandhis, particularly in relation to YI’s acquisition of AJL’s assets. The assets were acquired for a mere ₹50 lakh, despite the fact that their current market value is estimated at ₹5,000 crore.
In November 2023, the ED had already attached assets worth ₹751.9 crore, comprising ₹661 crore in immovable assets and ₹90 crore in shares, linked to AJL and YI. The primary accusation against the Gandhis, according to the ED, is that they are the beneficial owners of YI, which gained control over AJL’s significant assets worth ₹2,000 crore.
The Congress party and its leadership have strongly rejected these allegations, with leaders asserting that they will not be silenced, emphasizing their continued commitment to the fight for justice, symbolized by the phrase “Satyameva Jayate.”
This latest development in the National Herald case is sure to keep political and legal circles abuzz as the investigation progresses.
According to court documents accessed by HT, this includes real estate and other assets valued at ₹755 crore, shares worth ₹90 crore, and rental income of ₹142 crore earned since the 2010-11 financial year. The rent was reportedly earned by AJL from its high-profile properties located in Delhi, Mumbai, Indore, Panchkula, Lucknow, and Patna after YI took over the company in FY 2010-11, as per ED’s assertion.
In July 2022, Sonia Gandhi, a sitting Rajya Sabha member from Rajasthan, was questioned by the ED for approximately 11 hours over three days. Rahul Gandhi, an MP from Rae Bareli, was interrogated for nearly 40 hours in four separate sittings in June 2022. Both were questioned about their involvement in the daily operations of YI, a ₹90.21 crore loan provided by the All India Congress Committee (AICC) to AJL, and transactions tied to the development of an AJL property in Mumbai.
The agency’s charge sheet, as stated by the officer cited, reveals that “by transferring the majority shareholding of AJL to YI, the accused effectively transferred the beneficial ownership of all properties of AJL, worth thousands of crores, to Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi.”
The investigation was initiated in 2021 following a cognizance order issued on June 26, 2014, by a Delhi court. This order stemmed from a private complaint filed by BJP leader Subramanian Swamy.
Officials have confirmed that the next hearing in the Swamy case in the Delhi court is scheduled for August 2, 2025.
