In a major development in the long-pending National Herald money laundering case, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) has filed a chargesheet against Congress MPs Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi, along with several others. The chargesheet was submitted to Delhi’s Rouse Avenue Court on April 15, 2025, and comes after years of investigation into the alleged misuse of funds and illegal acquisition of assets related to the now-defunct National Herald newspaper, originally run by Associated Journals Limited (AJL). The court is scheduled to hear the matter on April 25.

ED's Allegations

The ED’s chargesheet also names Sam Pitroda, the chief of the Indian Overseas Congress, as well as Suman Dubey and others allegedly involved in the case. According to the ED, Sonia and Rahul Gandhi, through Young Indian Limited (YIL)—a company they beneficially own—illegally took control of AJL’s assets worth over ₹2,000 crore by investing only ₹50 lakh.

The case centres around money laundering and financial irregularities tied to the acquisition and management of AJL’s properties. The ED alleges that YIL used the AJL network to launder ₹988 crore worth of proceeds of crime. Investigators claim this was done using multiple fraudulent channels, including bogus donations worth ₹18 crore, advance rent payments amounting to ₹38 crore, and ₹29 crore generated through advertisements.

In addition, on April 11, the ED issued notices to property registrars in Delhi, Mumbai, and Lucknow, where AJL-owned assets are located. This step followed an Adjudicating Authority’s confirmation of the agency’s earlier provisional attachment of these properties.

Congress Reacts

The Congress Party immediately responded to the development, branding it a political vendetta. Senior party leader Jairam Ramesh took to social media to criticise the move, alleging that the government was misusing investigative agencies to harass the Opposition.

“Seizing the assets of the National Herald is a state-sponsored crime masquerading as the rule of law. Filing chargesheets against Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi, and some others is nothing but the politics of vendetta and intimidation by the PM and the Home Minister (have) gone completely berserk. The INC and its leadership will not be silenced. Satyameva Jayate,” Ramesh tweeted.

Background of the National Herald Case: From Legacy to Legal Dispute

The National Herald case first emerged in 2014, following a complaint filed by BJP leader Subramanian Swamy in a Delhi court. The complaint alleged that top Congress leaders orchestrated a fraudulent acquisition of AJL's assets through YIL. Despite multiple legal challenges over the years, the Delhi High Court and the Supreme Court allowed the investigation to proceed.

The ED officially launched its probe in 2021. Since then, the agency has conducted search and seizure operations at several locations, claiming to have found critical documents pointing to deeper financial wrongdoing.

AJL and the National Herald

Founded in 1938 by Jawaharlal Nehru and other Congress leaders, the National Herald was intended as a voice for liberal and progressive perspectives within the Indian National Congress. Published by Associated Journals Limited, the newspaper became closely tied to the Congress Party after India’s independence. AJL also published two other newspapers in Hindi and Urdu. However, due to mounting debts—over ₹90 crore—the publication ceased operations in 2008.

Political and Legal Battle Set to Intensify

The filing of the chargesheet against two of the most senior Congress leaders signals a new chapter in the politically sensitive National Herald case. As the matter heads to court on April 25, both legal and political battles are expected to escalate. While the ED maintains that the investigation uncovers serious financial crimes, the Congress insists that the charges are an attempt to silence its leadership ahead of the upcoming elections. With the case tied closely to the legacy of the party and its founding figures, the outcome could have far-reaching consequences for both the legal and political landscapes in India.