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National Herald Case: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has filed a chargesheet in the Rouse Avenue Court against Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi, Sonia Gandhi and Overseas Congress chief Sam Pitroda in the National Herald money laundering case.
The chargesheet also includes the names of Suman Dubey and some other people. The court will hear this chargesheet on April 25. In this case, ED has already seized assets worth more than Rs 64 crore.
What is the National Herald case?
November 2012: Subramanian Swamy filed a criminal complaint accusing the Gandhi family of land grabbing.
June 2014: The court sent summons to all the accused and said that the initial evidence is against them.
August 2014: ED started investigating whether money laundering has taken place in this case.
September 2015: ED again started investigating this case.
December 2015: Patiala House Court granted bail to Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi.
February 2016: The Supreme Court rejected the plea to quash the case and said the proceedings will continue.
April 2019: The Supreme Court granted relief to the Gandhi family and stayed the Delhi High Court order asking them to vacate ‘Herald House’.
May 2020: The ED attached a building worth Rs 16.38 crore in Bandra, Mumbai, which belongs to Associated Journals Limited (AJL).
February 2021: BJP leader Subramanian Swamy appealed in the Delhi High Court against the trial court order.
March 2022: The Delhi Income Tax Court accepted the appeal of Sonia and Rahul Gandhi, which was against the tax assessment of AJL’s properties.
April 2022: Congress leaders Mallikarjun Kharge and Pawan Bansal recorded their statements before the ED.
The ED summoned Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi for questioning.
August 2022: ED seals Young Indian’s office in Delhi.
October 2022: Congress leader DK Shivakumar and his brother summoned by ED.
November 2022: DK Shivakumar appears before ED.
June 2023: Congress leader Anjan Kumar Yadav appears before ED.
November 2023: ED orders attachment of assets worth Rs 752 crore.
April 2024: Decision to attach property upheld.
July 2024: Delhi High Court asks Swamy, Sonia and Rahul to file written replies.
April 2025: ED begins seizing Sonia and Rahul Gandhi’s properties.
April 15, 2025: ED files chargesheet in National Herald money laundering case in Rouse Avenue Court.
What is National Herald case?
National Herald was a newspaper published by a company called Associated Journals Limited (AJL). This company was formed in 1937 and about 5000 freedom fighters including Jawaharlal Nehru had invested in it.
This company used to print newspapers in three languages:
“Navjivan” in Hindi,
“Qaumi Awaaz” in Urdu,
“National Herald” in English.
The British government once banned the newspaper, but it was restarted in 1945. Over time, this company went into losses and in 2008, during the Congress government, the newspaper stopped printing. By 2010, this company had 1057 shareholders. In 2011, the shares of this loss-making company were given to a new company “Young India Limited”. In return, Young India gave only Rs 50 lakh to AJL. A controversy arose over this transaction and allegations of money laundering and fraud were made regarding it, which is called the National Herald case.
Subramanian Swamy had made these allegations
In 2012, BJP leader Subramanian Swamy filed a complaint in the lower court. He said that Young India Limited (YIL) committed fraud and betrayal while taking over Associated Journals Limited (AJL). Swamy alleged that some Congress leaders were involved in this work and YIL wrongly took over National Herald’s property worth crores.
Congress leaders raised questions on ED action
Congress leaders have targeted the central government over ED action. These include senior leaders like Kamal Nath and Jairam Ramesh. Kamal Nath, who is a senior Congress leader and former Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh, said, “Seizing the properties of National Herald and filing a charge sheet against some people including Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi is completely an act of political revenge.” Jairam Ramesh also criticized the government and said, “Seizing the property of National Herald is a kind of state-sponsored crime, which is being carried out in the name of law. Filing a chargesheet against Sonia and Rahul Gandhi is a part of the revenge politics and threats of the Prime Minister and the Home Minister.” He said, “Congress and its leadership will not sit silent. In the end, truth will win, Satyameva Jayate.”
