Delhi Court Set to Rule on ED Chargesheet in National Herald Money Laundering Case Against Congress Leaders

A Delhi court is scheduled to deliver its ruling this Saturday on whether to acknowledge the Enforcement Directorate's (ED) chargesheet in the National Herald money laundering case.

The court had previously postponed its decision, stating that additional examination of transaction records was necessary.

The high-profile legal matter involves several prominent figures as accused under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), including Congress Parliamentary Party Chairperson Sonia Gandhi, Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi, Congress Overseas Chief Sam Pitroda, and Suman Dubey.

Special Judge Vishal Gogne of the Rouse Avenue Court reserved the order on November 7 after the ED provided additional clarifications following the court's review of case materials.

The judge stated, "Further submissions and clarifications have been advanced by the Additional Solicitor General on behalf of the ED in light of the inspection of the case files by the court. List for orders on November 29."

According to the ED, senior Congress officials allegedly conspired to unlawfully gain control of Associated Journals Ltd (AJL) assets exceeding Rs 2,000 crore. AJL was the original publisher of the National Herald newspaper. The acquisition allegedly occurred by paying only a nominal sum of Rs 50 lakh.

The court previously delayed its decision, indicating that further review of transaction documents, alleged rent receipts, and fund flow patterns was needed before determining if the prosecution complaint met the statutory requirements for cognisance under the PMLA.

While the ED maintains that the case involves a "serious economic offence" and a conspiracy to appropriate AJL's properties through Young Indian (in which Sonia and Rahul Gandhi hold majority stakes) for a minimal amount, the Congress leaders have characterized the money laundering allegations as "really strange" and "unprecedented".

The ED alleges that a conspiracy was formed to establish Young Indian to acquire control over the substantial assets of the now-defunct newspaper, with the intention of personally benefiting top Congress leadership.

The investigation agency reported that numerous senior Congress leaders participated in "fake transactions," claiming that individuals acting under their direction had issued fraudulent advance rent payments over several years using fabricated rent receipts.

The controversy regarding National Herald's assets first gained public attention in 2012 when BJP leader Subramanian Swamy filed a complaint in a trial court, alleging that Congress leaders had engaged in cheating and breach of trust while acquiring AJL.