Delhi Court Dismisses ED Case Against Sonia and Rahul Gandhi

Post by : Mina Rahman

On Tuesday, a Delhi court rejected the Enforcement Directorate's (ED) money laundering case involving Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi, and five others tied to the National Herald issue.

The Rouse Avenue Court noted that the ED’s prosecution complaint under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) could not be proceeded with, as it arose from a private complaint rather than a First Information Report (FIR). The court highlighted that the Economic Offences Wing of the Delhi Police had already initiated an FIR in the matter, deeming the ED's submission premature.

While dismissing the ED case, the court made it clear that the agency can still pursue its investigations and potentially appeal the ruling.

The Congress party has hailed the decision as a triumph for the truth, asserting that the court deemed the ED’s case jurisdictionally invalid due to the absence of an FIR. Congress accused the government of using the case for political gain, claiming it has been targeting opposition figures for the past decade.

The ED had claimed that Sonia and Rahul Gandhi, alongside senior Congress officials like Sam Pitroda, conspired to illegitimately gain control of Associated Journals Limited (AJL), the now-defunct National Herald’s parent company.

About the National Herald Case:
Founded in 1938, the National Herald was a newspaper historically associated with the Congress. It ceased operations in 2008 with debts of ₹90.21 crore but continued to hold real estate valued at around ₹2,000 crore. The ED alleges that these properties have now escalated in value to ₹5,000 crore.

The controversy traces back to November 2012 when a private complaint alleged that the Gandhis and other Congress leaders acquired AJL properties for a mere ₹50 lakh, including Delhi’s Herald House and assets in Mumbai. These properties are currently estimated at ₹661 crore. Further claims suggest that AJL has amassed significant rental income from these assets, which the ED categorizes as nearly ₹998 crore in "proceeds of crime".

Responses to the judgment have been varied. Congress claims political motive behind the case, whereas opposition critics argue the party is deflecting attention. Some allies, such as Shiv Sena leader Priyanka Chaturvedi, defended Congress, accusing the government of misusing investigative powers for political ends.