The Indian National Congress (INC) on Tuesday strongly condemned the Enforcement Directorate’s (ED) filing of a chargesheet against Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi, and other senior party members in the ongoing National Herald money laundering case. Terming the move as a “politics of vendetta and intimidation,” the party accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah of misusing central agencies for political purposes.
ED Files Chargesheet in National Herald Case
The Enforcement Directorate has filed a prosecution complaint (chargesheet) under Sections 44 and 45 of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002, alleging violations under Section 3, read with Section 70, and punishable under Section 4 of the Act.
Apart from Sonia and Rahul Gandhi, the ED has also named Sam Pitroda and Suman Dubey, both senior Congress functionaries and close associates of the Gandhi family.
Delhi Court to Hear the Case on April 25
According to judicial sources, the matter has been listed for consideration of cognizance on April 25, 2025, at the Rouse Avenue Court in Delhi. The judge has directed that the special counsel for ED and the investigating officer (IO) present the case diaries for court perusal on the mentioned date.
Jairam Ramesh Reacts: “Satyameva Jayate”
Reacting sharply on social media platform X, Congress General Secretary Jairam Ramesh said:
“Seizing the assets of the National Herald is a state-sponsored crime masquerading as the rule of law. Filing chargesheets against Smt. Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi, and others is nothing but the politics of vendetta and intimidation by the PM and HM gone completely berserk. The INC and its leadership will not be silenced. Satyameva Jayate.”
Background of the National Herald Case
The National Herald case stems from a complaint originally filed by BJP leader Subramanian Swamy. It involves allegations of financial irregularities in the acquisition of Associated Journals Limited (AJL)—the company which published the now-defunct National Herald newspaper—by Young Indian Pvt Ltd, a company in which Sonia and Rahul Gandhi hold majority shares.
The ED has been investigating whether funds from Congress were illegally routed through Young Indian to acquire AJL’s assets worth hundreds of crores.
Political Showdown Expected
With Lok Sabha elections 2024 still fresh in public memory and the 2025 state elections on the horizon, the latest development is expected to deepen the ongoing political rift between the Congress and the BJP. Congress has pledged to fight the matter both legally and politically.
