New Delhi, May 22, 2025 — The Enforcement Directorate (ED) told a Delhi court on Wednesday that it is actively considering naming the Congress party itself as an accused in the ongoing National Herald money laundering case, citing that senior party leaders allegedly benefited while shareholders suffered losses. The submission was made before Special Judge Vishal Gogne at the Rouse Avenue Court during the opening arguments on whether the court should formally take cognisance of the case. The ED emphasized that there is prima facie evidence suggesting violations of money laundering laws by Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi, and others associated with the party.
Day-to-Day Hearings Scheduled in July
The high-profile case concluded its current phase of hearings on Wednesday, with the court now scheduled to hold day-to-day proceedings from July 2 to July 8. The case, which has attracted national attention, stems from a complaint originally filed by late BJP leader Subramanian Swamy in 2014. The ED formally began its investigation in 2021, following cognisance of the private complaint by a magistrate court.
Political Reactions Begin
In response to the ED’s remarks in court, BJP spokesperson Pradeep Bhandari commented, “The law is finally catching up with the corruption of the Gandhi-Vadra family.” The BJP has long accused the Congress leadership of financial improprieties in the functioning of Associated Journals Ltd. (AJL), the publisher of the now-defunct National Herald newspaper.
Background on the Case
The ED’s chargesheet, recently filed in the case, centers on allegations that AJL’s assets were illegally transferred to Young Indian Pvt Ltd, a company in which Rahul and Sonia Gandhi are major stakeholders. The agency claims the transaction involved misappropriation of funds and a scheme that allowed party leaders to benefit from AJL’s assets while sidelining genuine shareholders. If the court takes cognisance and the Congress party is formally added as an accused, it could mark a historic escalation in one of India’s most politically sensitive financial investigations. The Congress party has consistently denied any wrongdoing, calling the case a politically motivated vendetta aimed at distracting from current governance issues.
