The Enforcement Directorate told a Delhi court that at first sight against Congress leaders Sonia Gandhi (SONIA) and (&) Rahul Gandhi and others in the National Herald case, ‘first case of money is made’ at first sight. The ED presented the initial arguments regarding taking cognizance of the case in front of Special Judge Vishal Gogan.
Along with this, it is being speculated that from July 2 (NOW) in the case of National Herald will be done daily in the court. Meanwhile, the judge directed the ED to provide a copy of his charge sheet in the case to BJP leader Subramanian Swamy, on the basis of his personal complaint, the ED had registered the current case. The debate in this matter is still going on. Recently, the ED, which filed the charge sheet, launched its investigation in 2021, when a magistrate court took cognizance of a personal complaint filed by Swamy on 26 June 2014.
Additional Solicitor General SV Raju, who was representing the federal agency in the National Herald Dhan Laundering case, said that the accused were “enjoying the income of crime” until the Enforcement Directorate (ED) did not confiscate assets worth Rs 751.9 crore associated with the National Herald in November 2023. The ED further claimed that the Gandhi family not only earned money by earning the money received from the crime, but also kept that money with it.
The ED said that a case of money treatment has come to light against Sonia Gandhi, Sam Pitroda, Suman Dubey and others regarding the National Herald. Meanwhile, the judge ordered the federal agency to provide a copy to the complainant Subramanian Swamy. The ED recently filed its charge sheet after starting its investigation in 2021.
What happened in the last 3 hearing…
May 8: Court said- Can not take action forward without listening to the side of the accused. Justice Vishal Gogane, after hearing the ED’s arguments, said that notices have been sent to all the accused as per the previous order. But the notice was sent to them on 8 May, so they cannot proceed to the action without listening to their side. His side will be heard first on 21 and 22 May.
May 2: Court said– The right to hear kills in fair hearing. In the National Herald case, Rousse Avenue Court of Delhi gave notice to Sonia and Rahul Gandhi. The second hearing of the case was held in the court. Special Judge Vishal Gogne said, the right to hear the matter at any level kills the fair hearing.
What is the National Herald case?
The first complaint in the National Herald case was filed in 2012. However, the ED launched an investigation into the case under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) in 2014. This happened when a trial court took cognizance of the income tax check of irregularities on the basis of a personal criminal complaint filed by Swamy in 2012.
According to the allegations, in 2010, there were 1,057 shareholders in the Associated Journal Limited (AJL) publishing the National Herald. According to Swami’s complaint, the Gandhi family acquired AJL using Young Indian Limited (YIL) through fraud, criminal embezzlement and betrayal.
in 2008 Under the burden of heavy debt, AJL stopped publication of National Herald citing financial constraints. VIL became after two years. Sonia and Rahul Gandhi had 38-38 percent shares, which was jointly 78 percent. Since the Congress owed Rs 90.25 crore to AJL, the party transferred this loan to YIL for Rs 50 lakh.
With this transfer, AJL’s control was transferred to YIL, now it is now owned by 99 percent of AJL. All these changes were made without monitoring the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) or any other regulatory body. Which raised questions on this transaction.
