The central investigative agency, Enforcement Directorate (ED), has lodged a prosecution complaint (chargesheet) against Congress MP Rahul Gandhi, Sonia Gandhi, and Congress Overseas Chief Sam Pitroda in the Rouse Avenue Court over the National Herald money laundering issue.
The chargesheet, filed by the ED, also names Suman Dubey among others. The court has scheduled a hearing to acknowledge the chargesheet on April 25. Notably, the ED has already seized assets worth over Rs 64 crore in this case.
Comprehensive Timeline of the National Herald Case
-November 2012: Subramanian Swamy filed a criminal complaint accusing the Gandhi family of land grabbing.
-June 2014: The magistrate summoned all accused, citing prima facie evidence against them.
-August 2014: The ED initiated a probe into possible money laundering in the case.
-September 2015: The ED resumed its investigation.
-December 2015: The Patiala House Court granted bail to Sonia and Rahul Gandhi.
-February 2016: The Supreme Court declined to dismiss proceedings against the accused.
-April 2019: Offering relief to the Gandhi family, the Supreme Court stayed the Delhi High Court's order to vacate the 'Herald House' in Delhi housing the National Herald office.
-May 2020: In Mumbai's Bandra, a section of a nine-story building, valued at Rs 16.38 crore, was attached by the ED as part of its money laundering probe against Associated Journals Limited (AJL), promoted by the Congress Party.
-February 2021: BJP MP Subramanian Swamy approached the Delhi High Court against a trial court order rejecting his plea for evidence submission to prosecute Sonia Gandhi, her son Rahul, and others in the National Herald case.
-31 March 2022: The Delhi bench of the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal accepted appeals filed by directors of Young Indian, including Congress leaders Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi, against the income tax assessment of properties by Associated Journals Limited in the National Herald case.
-April 2022: Senior Congress leader and Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha, Mallikarjun Kharge, appeared at the ED headquarters in connection with a money laundering case related to a land deal.
-April 2022: The ED recorded the statement of senior Congress leader Pawan Kumar Bansal in relation to a case involving Associated Journals Limited (AJL) and Young Indian.
-June 2022: The ED summoned Sonia and Rahul Gandhi for questioning in the National Herald case.
-August 2022: The ED sealed the Young Indian office in Delhi.
-October 2022: The ED summoned Karnataka Congress President DK Shivakumar and MP DK Suresh.
-November 2022: DK Shivakumar appeared for the hearing.
-June 2023: Former MP and TPCC working president Anjan Kumar Yadav appeared before the Enforcement Directorate (ED).
-November 2023: ED ordered the attachment of properties worth Rs 752 crore in the National Herald matter.
-April 2024: PMLA body upheld the decision to seize assets worth Rs 752 crore.
-July 2024: The Delhi High Court directed Swamy, Sonia, and Rahul to file written submissions in the National Herald case.
-April 2025: ED began attaching properties related to Sonia and Rahul Gandhi.
-15 April 2025: ED filed a prosecution complaint (chargesheet) in the Rouse Avenue Court, Delhi, concerning the National Herald money laundering case.
What is the National Herald Case?
Established by Associated Journals Limited in 1937, National Herald was published by a company founded with involvement from Jawaharlal Nehru and 5,000 freedom fighters as shareholders. It published two daily newspapers, Qaumi Awaz in Urdu and Navjivan in Hindi, until the British government banned them.
Revived in 1945, the publication went into decline, ceasing operations in 2008 under Congress's UPA government. By 2010, the company had 1,057 shareholders and was transferred to Young Indian Limited in 2011 for a mere Rs 50 lakh paid to 'The Associate Journal.'
Subramanian Swamy's Allegations
In 2012, BJP leader Subramanian Swamy filed a complaint alleging fraud and breach of trust in the acquisition of Associated Journals Limited by Young Indian Limited, accusing some Congress leaders. Swamy claimed wrongful acquisition of National Herald's property by YIL.
Congress Leaders' Critique
Congress leaders criticized the ED's actions, questioning the government's intent. Leaders like Jairam Ramesh and Kamal Nath denounced it as political harassment, remarking, 'The seizure of National Herald assets and charges against Sonia, Rahul Gandhi, and others represent state-sponsored oppression hiding behind legal pretense.'
Jairam Ramesh stated, 'Seizing National Herald's assets under the guise of the rule of law and filing charges against key Congress figures is merely a vendetta by the Prime Minister and the Home Minister. Congress and its leadership will not remain silent. Truth alone triumphs.'
