In the National Herald case, Rouse Avenue Court stated in its order that the Enforcement Directorate (ED) had not properly filed or organized some documents. The court noted that senior lawyer S.V. Raju, representing the ED, assured that the agency's investigating officers would address any deficiencies.
Next Hearing on May 2
The next hearing for this case is scheduled for May 2. On Friday, Delhi's Rouse Avenue Court refused to issue notices against Congress leaders Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi, and others in the National Herald money laundering case presently.
The ED, in its petition, argued that under the new provisions of the law, a complaint (equivalent to the ED's charge sheet) cannot be taken cognizance of without a hearing of the accused. The ED told the court, 'We don't want this order to be prolonged. Notices should be issued.'
Several Congress Figures Named in Charge Sheet
However, the judge remarked that the court needs to be satisfied that a notice is necessary before passing such an order. Special Judge Vishal Gogne had heard the case on April 9 and scheduled the next hearing for April 25.
The charge sheet names several individuals connected to Congress, including Suman Dubey and Sam Pitroda, as well as Young Indian, Dotex Merchandise Private Limited, and Dotex's officer Sunil Bhandari. Congress has criticized the ED's charge sheet, alleging it as a matter of 'political revenge.'
