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New Delhi, April 12, 2025 — The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has issued a notice to take possession of assets worth ₹661 crore in connection with the ongoing investigation into the National Herald case. The assets are allegedly linked to entities associated with the Congress party, including Young Indian Pvt. Ltd., which is under the scanner for financial irregularities.
The notice was served as part of the ED’s probe under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). According to officials, the properties targeted include prime real estate in Delhi and Mumbai, held by Associated Journals Ltd. (AJL), the publisher of the now-defunct National Herald newspaper, and allegedly controlled by Young Indian — a company in which senior Congress leaders Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi hold a majority stake.
The ED alleges that Young Indian acquired AJL through dubious financial arrangements aimed at taking control of high-value real estate assets without proper monetary exchange. In a provisional attachment order issued earlier, the agency had estimated the value of these properties at over ₹661 crore.
In response to the ED’s action, the Congress party has condemned the move, calling it “politically motivated” and a “desperate attempt to silence the opposition.” Party spokespersons reiterated that all transactions were legal and transparent, and accused the government of misusing investigative agencies to target its political opponents.
This development marks a significant escalation in the case, which has been under investigation for several years and has seen repeated legal battles. The ED’s latest move to take physical possession of the assets could trigger another round of court proceedings and political controversy.
Legal experts believe that unless stayed by a competent court, the possession notice may lead to the government seizing the properties, further intensifying the face-off between the central government and the Congress leadership.
The National Herald case, first initiated by BJP leader Subramanian Swamy in 2012, has been a flashpoint in Indian politics, often cited by the ruling party as an example of alleged corruption under previous regimes.
As of now, no arrests have been made in connection with this latest notice, but the ED has indicated that further legal steps will follow based on the outcome of its ongoing investigations.
