ED files chargesheet against Sonia, Rahul Gandhi in National Herald case

New Delhi, Apr 15: On Tuesday, the Enforcement Directorate (ED)filed a chargesheet against Congress leaders Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi in connection with the ongoing National Herald case. Alongside them, several news agencies reported that senior Congress figures Sam Pitroda and Suman Dubey were also named as accused. The chargesheet was submitted in April and is currently under review by a Special Judge who is examining whether to take cognisance of the case.

The matter has been scheduled for the next hearing on April 25, when the ED is expected to present the case diaries before the court.

The Congress party reacted strongly to the ED’s move, framing it as politically motivated and alleging misuse of investigative agencies. This development follows recent actions by the ED to initiate the seizure of properties worth over Rs 700 crore linked to Associated Journals Limited (AJL), a company tied to the Congress leadership. These properties include prominent real estate holdings in Delhi, Mumbai, and Lucknow.

AJL, the publisher of the National Herald newspaper, is owned by Young Indian Private Limited. Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi hold a 38% stake each in the company, making them majority shareholders. The ED’s action forms part of its wider investigation into alleged money laundering involving AJL under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002, and relevant rules for the attachment and possession of properties.