Delhi Court issues notice to Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi in National Herald case

The case will be heard next on May 8.

Published on: May 2, 2025, 19:06:26 IST

By HT News Desk

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A Delhi court on Friday issued a notice to Congress leaders Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi, and others regarding the chargesheet filed against them by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in connection with the National Herald money laundering case.

Congress MP Rahul Gandhi and Congress Parliamentary Party Chairperson Sonia Gandhi at Central Hall, Samvidhan Sadan in New Delhi. (ANI )

Special Judge Vishal Gogne said that Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi, and other proposed accused have the "right to be heard" at the time of cognisance of the chargesheet.

He also underscored that this right is fundamental to ensuring a fair trial, making the issuance of the notice necessary, while scheduling the next hearing for the case on May 8.

Also Read | Delhi court declines ED's plea to issue notices to Sonia, Rahul Gandhi in National Herald case

Earlier, ED filed a charge sheet on April 9 against former Congress presidents Sonia and Rahul Gandhi in connection with its ₹988-crore money laundering probe in the National Herald case.

The charge sheet, filed under sections 3 (money laundering) and 4 (punishment for money laundering) of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), names Sonia and Rahul Gandhi as accused number 1 and 2, respectively.

Also Read | National Herald case: Chargesheet against Sonia, Rahul sheer political vendetta: Ashok Gehlot

Besides the Gandhis, ED has also named overseas Congress head Sam Pitroda and former journalist Suman Dubey in the charge sheet, along with the Young Indian Private Limited (YI) — a firm in which Sonia and Rahul Gandhi together hold 76% stake.

Also Read | ‘ED can’t scare us’: Congress on Herald charge sheet

ED has claimed that Gandhis are beneficial owners of YI, which acquired the assets of the National Herald’s parent company Associated Journals Limited (AJL), worth ₹2,000 crore, for a mere ₹50 lakh. The agency further claimed to have identified proceeds of crime worth ₹988 crore in the case.

The Congress has termed the charge sheet “political vendetta”.

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HT News Desk
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