Prima facie case made out against Sonia, Rahul in Herald case, says ED
In a significant development in the National Herald case, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) told a Delhi court on Wednesday that it had “prima facie” established a case of money laundering against Congress leaders Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi among others.
The statement came during preliminary arguments before Special Judge Vishal Gogne at the Rouse Avenue Court, where the ED presented its findings and urged the court to take cognisance of the matter.
The agency claimed that key transactions involving the Congress-linked company, Young Indian, were illicit and involved “proceeds of crime”, including rental income worth Rs 142 crore received by the accused.
The court, acknowledging the gravity of the submissions, ordered the ED to furnish a copy of its prosecution complaint to BJP leader Subramanian Swamy, whose 2012 complaint triggered the probe.
Judge Gogne scheduled daily hearings in the case from July 2 to July 8, saying, “The matter shall be taken up on a daily basis from July 2 till July 8 for submissions on behalf of the ED and the accused.”
With hearings now scheduled for early July, the high-stakes case is poised to enter a crucial phase, likely to reverberate through both legal and political corridors. Representing the Gandhis, senior advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi sought the deferment of the proceedings until July, citing the voluminous case records. The request was partially accommodated, with the court allowing the ED to proceed with its opening arguments on Wednesday itself.
Appearing for the agency, Additional Solicitor General SV Raju and advocate Zoheb Hossain contended that the financial dealings surrounding Young Indian and Associated Journals Ltd (AJL) — publisher of the National Herald — violated Section 3 of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act and Section 411 of the IPC (receiving stolen property). Hossain argued Young Indian served no genuine business purpose other than to “benefit the accused”.
Judge Gogne pressed the ED to clarify whether the alleged wrongdoing stemmed from a scheduled offence — an essential criterion for a money laundering charge under the PMLA. He also questioned if the Congress itself could be viewed as a victim. Hossain said party donors, not the party, were the victims of the fraud.
The court also sought additional details on asset ownership and the transformation of lawfully held property into criminal proceeds through illegitimate means.
India