ED Claims ₹142 Cr Laundered by Gandhis in National Herald Case and they benefited in alleged illegal gains. Daily hearings scheduled from July 2 to July 8.
Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Tuesday informed a Delhi court that senior Congress leaders Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi are prima facie involved in money laundering in the long-running National Herald case. The agency alleged that the Gandhis, along with other accused, received and benefited from proceeds of crime amounting to ₹142 crore.
The remarks were made during the opening arguments before Special Judge Vishal Gogne, marking the start of a crucial phase in the judicial proceedings. The ED further asserted that the accused continued to enjoy the benefits of the alleged proceeds of crime until November 2023, when assets valued at over ₹751.9 crore were provisionally attached under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).
ED’s Special Counsel Zoheb Hossain, presenting the agency’s case, stated that the financial transactions in question involve complex layers that indicate the laundering of illicit funds through the acquisition of properties and the misuse of a not-for-profit entity. According to the ED, the transactions were conducted under the guise of reviving the defunct newspaper ‘National Herald,’ formerly run by Associated Journals Limited (AJL), but allegedly used for acquiring vast real estate assets through its new holding company, Young Indian Pvt. Ltd., in which Sonia and Rahul Gandhi are key stakeholders.
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The ED has accused Young Indian of acquiring shares of AJL in a “malicious manner” to indirectly gain control over its properties, which include valuable real estate in various Indian cities. The agency maintains that this move allowed Congress leaders to derive significant financial benefits without paying the required dues or complying with corporate regulations.
Delhi court directs ED to give a copy of its PMLA complaint against Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Sonia Gandhi in the National Herald case to Subramanian Swamy pic.twitter.com/b0l81vWHLB
— Bar and Bench (@barandbench) May 21, 2025
The case dates back to 2014, when BJP leader Subramanian Swamy filed a complaint alleging criminal misappropriation, cheating, and breach of trust against the Gandhis and other Congress leaders. A Delhi magistrate court took cognizance of the complaint, and the ED initiated its own investigation into possible money laundering charges in 2021.
In light of the serious allegations, Judge Vishal Gogne has now directed that the court will hear the case on a day-to-day basis from July 2 to July 8, 2025, to ensure timely proceedings in the matter. The court also ordered the Enforcement Directorate to provide a copy of its detailed chargesheet to complainant Subramanian Swamy to enable him to respond during the hearing.
Legal experts view the court’s decision to hold daily hearings as an indication of the growing judicial urgency to resolve high-profile financial crimes that have major political implications. If the allegations are upheld, they could carry severe legal and political consequences for India’s principal opposition party.
Meanwhile, Congress leaders have consistently denied any wrongdoing in the case. They have previously termed the charges as “politically motivated” and an example of “vendetta politics” being carried out by the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). In past statements, the Congress has maintained that the National Herald case is about a legitimate business transaction meant to revive a historic newspaper associated with India’s freedom struggle.
The party is yet to issue an official response following today’s courtroom developments, but sources within the Congress suggest that legal teams are preparing to contest the charges vigorously when the hearings resume in July.
The National Herald, founded in 1938 by India’s first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru, has long held symbolic value for the Congress party. However, the case surrounding its ownership and financial transactions continues to cast a shadow over the party’s top leadership.
As the legal battle intensifies, all eyes will now be on the upcoming July hearings, which are expected to shed further light on the ED’s findings and the defense strategy of the Congress leadership.
