A Delhi court has issued notices to Rahul and Sonia Gandhi in the high-profile National Herald case. The ED alleges misappropriation of assets worth over ₹2,000 crore involving Young Indian and Congress leaders.
A Delhi court has taken a significant step in the National Herald money laundering case, as it issued legal notices to senior Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Sonia Gandhi, along with others, on Friday.
The court has asked them to respond to the allegations made against them in the case, which involves serious accusations of financial wrongdoing.
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Special Judge (PC Act) Vishal Gogne also sent notices to other accused individuals and entities in the case.
These include Sam Pitroda, Suman Dubey, Sunil Bhandari, and two companies — M/s Young India and M/s Dotex Merchandise Pvt Ltd.
The court has now scheduled the next hearing for May 8, where the accused will have an opportunity to present their side.
Judge Gogne, while issuing the notices, made an important observation,
“Rahul Gandhi, Sonia Gandhi, and others who have been named by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in its chargesheet have a right to be heard at the time of cognisance.”
This means the court recognizes their legal right to explain or defend themselves before any further action is taken.
The National Herald case is connected to a ₹90 crore loan that the Congress party had given to Associated Journals Ltd (AJL), which owns the National Herald newspaper.
This loan was later transferred or “assigned” to Young Indian, a company reportedly controlled by members of the Gandhi family, for only ₹50 lakh.
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has alleged that this transaction resulted in the wrongful use and control of assets worth more than ₹2,000 crore, making it a matter of serious financial misappropriation.
The roots of this case go back to a private complaint filed by former Union Minister Dr. Subramanian Swamy, who accused Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi, Motilal Vora, Oscar Fernandes, Suman Dubey, and Sam Pitroda, along with Young Indian, of engaging in cheating, criminal conspiracy, criminal breach of trust, and misappropriation of property.
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According to recent updates, the ED filed its prosecution complaint (a kind of formal legal report that acts like a chargesheet in money laundering cases) on April 15 this year.
The complaint includes all the key accused — Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi, Sam Pitroda, and others.
This development in the National Herald case has once again brought attention to one of the most high-profile legal battles involving top political leaders in the country. The outcome of this case could have significant political and legal consequences in the coming months.
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