National Herald Case: Delhi Court to Decide on Cognisance of ED Chargesheet on November 29
ED alleges Rs 2,000 crore asset grab via Young Indian; Delhi Court to decide on taking cognisance of charges against Sonia, Rahul Gandhi and others on November 29
A Delhi Court on Friday reserved its order on the Enforcement Directorate’s (ED) chargesheet in the National Herald money laundering case, in which Congress leaders Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi are among the accused.
Special Judge Vishal Gogne of the Rouse Avenue Court said the order on cognisance will be pronounced on November 29.
“Further submissions and clarifications have been advanced by the Additional Solicitor General on behalf of the ED in light of the inspection of the case files by the court. List for orders on November 29,” the judge said.
The Court had earlier deferred its decision, noting the need for further scrutiny of the case documents before taking cognisance.
The chargesheet, filed by the ED, accuses senior Congress leaders Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi, along with the late party leaders Motilal Vora and Oscar Fernandes, as well as Suman Dubey, Sam Pitroda, and the company Young Indian, of criminal conspiracy and money laundering.
According to the agency, Young Indian, in which Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi allegedly hold a majority 76 percent stake, fraudulently took over assets worth around ₹2,000 crore belonging to Associated Journals Limited (AJL), which published the National Herald newspaper.
The ED claims that the takeover was facilitated through a ₹90 crore loan extended to AJL, allowing Young Indian to acquire control of its properties and operations.
The chargesheet names Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi, Sam Pitroda, Suman Dubey, Sunil Bhandari, Young Indian, and Dotex Merchandise Pvt Ltd as accused in the case.
The matter will now be heard on November 29 when the Court is expected to decide whether to take cognisance of the ED’s chargesheet.
It is to be noted that on July 12, the ED had told the Delhi Court that Young Indian Ltd was used as a vehicle for money laundering and alleged that contributing funds to the company was linked to securing Congress party tickets to contest elections. On July 8, the ED had accused top Congress leaders, including Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi, of criminal breach of trust and money laundering, alleging that the takeover of Associated Journals Limited (AJL) by Young Indian was a fraudulent transaction designed to usurp assets worth over Rs. 2,000 crore.
Earlier, Young Indian Private Limited had contended that the Income-Tax Department categorically labelled the purported Rs. 90 crore loan to Associated Journals Ltd (AJL), publisher of the National Herald, as a sham transaction, noting that “monies never flew.” The petitioner-private company had argued that this stance directly conflicts with Enforcement Directorate’s (EDs) core allegations and raises fundamental doubts over the money laundering charges.
It is to be noted that on July 4, Senior Advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi, representing Sonia Gandhi had described the Enforcement Directorate’s (ED) money laundering case against her and other Congress functionaries in the National Herald matter as “truly a strange” and unprecedented prosecution. “This is truly a strange case. More than strange. Unprecedented. This is an alleged case of money laundering without any proceeds of crime, without property, without use or projection of property,” Singhvi had argued, calling into question the very basis of the ED's case under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).
On May 21, the Delhi Court had began hearing arguments on the cognisance of a prosecution complaint filed by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) against Congress leaders Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi, and others in connection with a money laundering case linked to the National Herald matter. Earlier, on May 8, the Delhi Court had adjourned proceedings in the case. “Since the notice has purportedly been served upon an alternative email ID upon the proposed accused 4 (Sam Pitroda) only today, it is appropriate that submissions on the aspect of cognisance are heard on the next date of hearing,” the Court had observed.
On May 2, the Delhi Court had issued notices to Congress leaders Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi in the National Herald money laundering case, observing that their “right to be heard at any stage breathes life into a fair trial.”
Case Title: Directorate of Enforcement v. Sonia Gandhi & Ors.
Hearing Date: November 7, 2025
Bench: Special Judge Vishal Gogne
[Inputs: PTI]