https://www.moneycontrol.com/news/india/national-herald-case-ed-alleges-sonia-rahul-gandhi-gained-rs-142-cr-from-money-laundering-13037410.html

Congress leaders Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi have benefitted from Rs 142 crore of “proceeds of crime” in the ongoing money laundering case linked to the National Herald newspaper, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) informed Delhi's Rouse Avenue court on Wednesday.

Additional Solicitor General SV Raju, appearing for the ED, said properties linked to the National Herald were attached in November 2023, and until then, the accused were “enjoying the proceeds of crime.” He went on to mention that “proceeds of crime” include not only properties obtained through the scheduled offence but also any other criminal activity related to those proceeds.

Special counsel for the ED, Zoheb Hossain, submitted that the cognisance of the predicate offence has already been taken. He alleged that Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi, Suman Dubey, and Sam Pitroda committed a breach of trust.

Hossain also stated that Sonia and Rahul Gandhi collectively owned 76 percent of Young Indian.

The ED also alleged that the accused committed money laundering not only by acquiring these proceeds but also by continuing to hold them.

The submissions were made before special judge Vishal Gogne during opening arguments on whether to take cognisance of the case.

The court directed the ED to provide a copy of its chargesheet to BJP leader Subramanian Swamy, whose private complaint in 2014 prompted the probe.

The matter has been adjourned for the remaining submissions and will be heard daily from July 2 to July 8.

The ED had filed the chargesheet on April 15 against Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi in the money laundering case. Congress leaders Sam Pitroda and Suman Dubey were also named as accused.

The case revolves around Associated Journals Limited (AJL), the publisher of the National Herald newspaper and website, which is owned by Young Indian Private Limited. Sonia and Rahul Gandhi are significant shareholders of Young Indian, each holding a 38 percent stake.

In November 2023, the ED attached immovable assets worth Rs 661 crore, along with AJL shares valued at Rs 90.2 crore, to secure the alleged proceeds of crime and prevent their disposal.

The total proceeds of crime identified by the ED in this case amount to Rs 988 crore.

This investigation follows a complaint filed by BJP leader Subramanian Swamy, who had accused the Gandhis of cheating and misappropriating funds through the acquisition of AJL. Swamy had alleged that Sonia and Rahul Gandhi took control of AJL via Young Indian, where they collectively hold 86 percent of the shares, thereby acquiring properties linked to the National Herald.

According to Swamy’s complaint, the Gandhis misappropriated funds by financing Young Indian to recover a debt of Rs 90.25 crore owed by AJL to the Congress party for just Rs 50 lakh.

The ED’s investigation began in 2021 after a magistrate court took cognisance of Swamy’s private complaint filed in June 2014. Swamy had alleged that the acquisition was made for merely Rs 50 lakh despite AJL’s real estate assets being valued at over Rs 2,000 crore.