The leaders allegedly put pressure on others to donate to Young Indian and Associated Journals Limited.
Published May 23, 2025 | 4:45 PM ⚊ Updated May 23, 2025 | 4:45 PM
DK Shivakumar and Revanth Reddy. (X)
Synopsis: Though neither leader has been arraigned as an accused in the case, the mention of their names in the ED chargesheet has armed the opposition BRS in Telangana.
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has mentioned the names of Telangana Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy and Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar in its latest chargesheet filed under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) in the National Herald case.
Though neither leader has been listed as an accused, the appearance of their names in the chargesheet has created a sensation.
Taking the cue, the Opposition BRS in Telangana launched a broadside against Revanth Reddy, saying that Telangana has become an ATM for the “Scamgress.”
Revanth Reddy, who served as the Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee president from 2019 to 2022 before he became the chief minister in 2023, is alleged to have put pressure on individuals to donate to Young Indian and Associated Journals Limited (AJL).
The ED’s chargesheet, filed in April 2025, claimed that Revanth Reddy had acted on the behest of senior Congress functionaries in mobilising funds for Young Indian and issued veiled warnings that non-compliance could harm their political or business interests.
The ED cited a statement by Congress leader Arvind Vishwanath Singh Chauhan, who claimed that he had donated ₹30 lakh from his bank account and ₹20 lakh in cash for Young Indian, allegedly under pressure from Revanth Reddy.
The central agency further alleged that between 2018–19 and 2019–20, Young Indian received ₹6.90 crore and ₹5.05 crore in donations, respectively, with some funds used to pay legal fees for an Income Tax appeal. Over a dozen entities also paid ₹6.8 crore to AJL for “advertisements,” allegedly at the behest of Congress leaders, including Revanth Reddy.
Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar, a prominent Congress troubleshooter, is also named in the chargesheet for raising donations for Young Indian. The ED alleged that Shivakumar personally donated ₹25 lakh and arranged an additional ₹2 crore through a trust associated with him. Shivakumar has been under ED scrutiny since 2022, when he and his brother, former Congress MP DK Suresh, were summoned to clarify the source of these donations.
Shivakumar claimed innocence, stating in 2022 that he is a “law-abiding citizen” and that his donations to Young Indian were legitimate charitable contributions. “Many well-wishers had donated to Young Indian; there’s nothing wrong with it,” he said after appearing for ED questioning in October and November 2022.
The ED’s chargesheet primarily involved Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi, Sam Pitroda, and Suman Dubey as accused, with a special PMLA court in Delhi scheduled to consider the case on 2 August 2025. The agency alleged that Young Indian’s takeover of AJL’s assets, including properties like the National Herald House in Delhi (valued at ₹661 crore), violated legal norms. The ED has attached properties worth ₹661 crore and issued eviction notices to AJL in April 2025.
The ED’s investigation is mainly into the transfer of AJL’s assets, including real estate worth over ₹2,000 crore, to Young Indian Pvt Ltd, where Congress leaders Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi hold a 76 percent stake. The probe agency claimed that donations to Young Indian and AJL were facilitated under pressure, with Revanth Reddy and Shivakumar named for their roles in soliciting funds.
Meanwhile, BRS Working President KT Rama Rao said the mention of Revanth Reddy’s name in the chargesheet exposed a “corruption empire.”
In an X post, KTR said that Telangana has become an ATM for “Scamgress” — a portmanteau of “scam” and “Congress” — and it has now been corroborated by the probe agencies.
“As the ED chargesheets Telangana’s ‘Bag Man’ in the National Herald case, he is trying his best to distract people’s attention from his corrupt practices. The million-dollar question is whether the NDA government will act this time or pardon Revanth Reddy as they have done in the case of the Amrut scam, RR Tax scam, and Civil Supplies scam.”
In a separate statement, KTR launched a scathing attack on the chief minister, saying that central probe agencies have now confirmed what BRS has been warning for months — that Telangana’s governance is compromised by corruption and commission deals.
“The ED has officially exposed Telangana’s bagman. Revanth Reddy has been caught influencing donors with political promises. He built a corrupt empire even before taking office. Since becoming the chief minister, he has expanded it into a multi-thousand-crore scam,” said KTR.
The BRS leader alleged that Revanth is resorting daily to “attention-diversion dramas” to escape accountability. “Every press meet, every outburst is a smokescreen to distract the people of Telangana from the real issue — a chief minister named in a money laundering chargesheet,” he said.
KTR also raised doubts over Revanth Reddy’s political integrity. “Will he now kneel before BJP leaders in secret to escape investigation, just like other turncoats have done?” he asked.
With rising dissent, rebellion, and institutional breakdowns, the Congress government is reportedly facing turmoil from within. “The chief minister’s chair is shaking. The fear of collapse haunts Revanth every day,” the BRS leader said.
“The Congress government is looting crores and playing with the future of the poor. They tried to burn down a progressive state with greed. But truth always wins in the end,” KTR said.
(Edited by Majnu Babu).
