Criminal conspiracy charged against Rahul, Sonia Gandhi in National Herald case; Congress calls it fake

New Delhi: The Delhi Police’s Economic Offences Wing (EOW) has registered a fresh FIR in the National Herald case, naming Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi, Sonia Gandhi, and six others, following a complaint by the Enforcement Directorate (ED). The FIR marks the latest development in the long-running case, which involves allegations of financial irregularities and money laundering.

Congress leader Udit Raj has dismissed the FIR as “fake,” saying the National Herald newspaper was founded during India’s independence movement and highlighting the Congress party’s efforts to sustain it.

“The BJP has built tall buildings for itself, whereas the Congress could hardly build its own office and could not save its newspaper from going into loss. For the salaries and pensions of National Herald employees, the Congress had given about Rs 90 to Rs 100 crore. I think this is a fake case intended to trap Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi,"he said.

A Delhi court on Saturday deferred its order on cognisance of the ED chargesheet filed in the National Herald case. Special Judge Vishal Gogne postponed the pronouncement of the order to December 16, keeping the focus on the legal proceedings involving senior Congress leaders.

The ED chargesheet in the National Herald case accuses Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi, late Congress leaders Motilal Vora and Oscar Fernandes, along with Sam Pitroda, Suman Dubey, and the private company Young Indian, of conspiracy and money laundering.

According to the investigation, these leaders allegedly acquired properties worth approximately Rs 2,000 crore belonging to Associated Journals Limited (AJL), the publisher of the National Herald newspaper. The ED has alleged that Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi held a majority 76% stake in Young Indian, which they are accused of using to "fraudulently" take control of AJL’s assets in exchange for a Rs 90 crore loan.

The ED chargesheet in the National Herald case names Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi, Sam Pitroda, Suman Dubey, Sunil Bhandari, Young Indian, and Dotex Merchandise Pvt Ltd as parties allegedly involved in the conspiracy.