National Herald Case: ED Files Charsheet, This is What it Says

Chargesheet alleges “criminal conspiracy” involving Young Indian, AJL; ED seeks up to 7-year jail term under PMLA

New Delhi, April 16, 2025 – The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has filed a prosecution complaint (chargesheet) naming Congress leaders Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi as key accused in the National Herald money laundering case, alleging their role in a conspiracy to illegally acquire properties worth ₹2,000 crore belonging to Associated Journals Limited (AJL).

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The chargesheet, filed before a Delhi special court on April 9, lists Sonia Gandhi as Accused No. 1 and Rahul Gandhi as Accused No. 2, and invokes multiple sections of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), including Sections 3, 4, 44, 45, and 70. These carry penalties of up to seven years of imprisonment.

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Key Allegations: AJL Shares Acquired for ₹50 Lakh

The ED alleges that 99% of AJL’s shares were transferred to Young Indian, a private firm, for just ₹50 lakh, giving Sonia and Rahul Gandhi “beneficial ownership” over AJL’s real estate assets across India.

• Sonia and Rahul Gandhi each held a 38% stake in Young Indian.
• The remaining 24% was owned by late Congress leaders Motilal Vora and Oscar Fernandes, described as “close associates” of the Gandhis.

According to the ED, this takeover was facilitated by converting an unpaid ₹90.21 crore loan from AICC to AJL into ₹9 crore worth of equity, which was then transferred to Young Indian—allegedly without any actual financial transaction to justify the deal.

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Young Indian’s “Not-for-Profit” Tag Under Scrutiny

While Congress has defended the case on grounds that Young Indian is a Section 25 (now Section 8) not-for-profit company, the ED argues that the firm engaged in no charitable activities and acted as a vehicle for property acquisition.

The agency refers to a 2017 Income Tax assessment order, which claimed that Young Indian evaded ₹414 crore in taxes through the alleged illegal acquisition of AJL’s assets.

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Other Accused and Court Proceedings

Others named in the chargesheet include:

• Suman Dubey
• Sam Pitroda
• Sunil Bhandari of Dotex Merchandise Pvt Ltd
• The firms Young Indian and Dotex Merchandise

The case will be heard again on April 25 by Special Judge Vishal Gogne, who is examining the chargesheet for cognisance.

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🧾 Background of the Case

The ED probe stems from a 2014 complaint filed by BJP leader Subramanian Swamy, who alleged that Congress leaders fraudulently took over AJL’s assets via Young Indian. The complaint was admitted by a Delhi court in June 2014, with the ED launching its investigation in 2021.

Tags: National Herald case, Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi, ED chargesheet, Young Indian, AJL, PMLA, money laundering, Congress party, Subramanian Swamy, Delhi court, Income Tax order, political corruption