New Delhi, Nov 30: Delhi Police have registered an FIR against Congress leaders Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi, along with several others, in connection with the National Herald case. The action follows a complaint by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) as part of its ongoing money laundering probe.
According to official sources, the Economic Offences Wing (EOW) filed the FIR on October 3. The case invokes IPC sections 120B (criminal conspiracy), 403 (dishonest misappropriation of property), 406 (criminal breach of trust) and 420 (cheating).
Apart from the Gandhis, the FIR names Congress leaders Suman Dubey and Sam Pitroda, Young Indian (YI), Associated Journals Ltd (AJL), Dotex Merchandise Ltd, Dotex promoter Sunil Bhandari and others. Most of these are also listed as accused in the ED chargesheet filed in April, which is pending cognisance before a Delhi court. The next hearing is scheduled for December 16.
Congress has dismissed the investigation as “vendetta politics,” accusing the ED of acting as an ally of the ruling BJP.
According to sources, the ED invoked Section 66(2) of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) to share evidence with the EOW, enabling registration of the predicate offence required for a full money laundering probe.
The FIR strengthens the ED’s existing case, which originated from a 2014 private complaint by BJP leader Subramanian Swamy alleging irregularities in AJL’s affairs.
The ED, in its chargesheet, claimed that a criminal conspiracy led by senior Congress figures allowed Young Indian—beneficially owned by Sonia and Rahul Gandhi—to acquire AJL properties worth more than Rs 2,000 crore for just Rs 50 lakh. It also alleged that Sonia Gandhi misused her position as then AICC president for personal gain, converting public funds for the benefit of herself and her son through Young Indian.
Both Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi, who each hold 38 percent shares in Young Indian, were questioned by the ED in this matter earlier.
