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’Won’t be silenced’, says Congress after ED files chargesheet against Sonia and Rahul Gandhi in National Herald case

According to reports, the probe agency has named former Congress president Sonia Gandhi as accused number 1 and her son, Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi, as accused number 2 in its prosecution complaint.

South First Desk

Published Apr 16, 2025 | 11:24 AM ⚊ Updated Apr 16, 2025 | 12:27 PM

Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi

Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi. (X)

Synopsis: The Enforcement Directorate has filed a chargesheet in the National Herald case, naming Sonia and Rahul Gandhi, alleging misuse of Congress funds to acquire AJL’s assets via Young Indian Pvt Ltd. Congress leaders slammed it as political vendetta. The ED claims AJL properties worth ₹661 crore were misappropriated. The case stems from a 2014 complaint by BJP leader Subramanian Swamy.

The Enforcement Directorate on Tuesday, 15 April, filed a chargesheet, in the alleged National Herald money laundering case, in a special Delhi court, which named Congress leaders Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi, and and it’s overseas unit chief Sam Pitroda.

Special Judge (PC Act) Vishal Gogne of the Rouse Avenue Courts posted the matter next on 25 April for consideration of cognisance.

According to Livelaw, the court noted, “A fresh prosecution complaint under sections 44 and 45 of Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) 2002 for commission of offence of money laundering as defined under section 3 read with section 70 and punishable under section 4 of PMLA, 2002 filed by the ED, has been received by way of assignment. Let the complaint be checked and registered.”

According to a Hindustan Times report, the probe agency has named former Congress president Sonia Gandhi as accused number 1 and her son, Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi, as accused number 2 in its prosecution complaint. The agency has also sought punishment for the accused under Section 4 of the PMLA, which provides for a jail term of up to seven years.

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‘Congress will not be silenced’

While neither Rahul Gandhi nor Sonia Gandhi have responded, senior Congress leader Jairam Ramesh took to X, to claim that, Indian National Congress and it’s leadership will not be silenced.

He further wrote: “Seizing the assets of the National Herald is a state-sponsored crime masquerading as the rule of law. Filing chargesheets against Smt. Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi, and some others is nothing but the politics of vendetta and intimidation by the PM and the HM gone completely berserk. The INC and its leadership will not be silenced. Satyameva Jayate.”

Meanwhile, Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury speaking to media said, “This is PM Modi’s conspiracy to destroy the Congress party. ED is an idiot; you can make them do anything, and we don’t care about that. We are not afraid of the BJP and PM Modi; we will fight against this.”

Congress MP Abishek Singvi in a video message noted, “The government had started a money laundering investigation without there being any movement of money, property, or any activity that caused a transfer. Now, there is nothing more except the charge sheet filed in a fake case, in a non-existent case. But, anyway, this is being contested. This will be contested fully in all aspects.”

He further wrote: “The ED’s chargesheet in National Herald case is a disgraceful abuse of power — a political hit job scripted by the BJP. It reeks of desperation to vilify Sonia Gandhi Ji & Rahul Gandhi Ji. Lies don’t become truth by repetition. This bogus case will collapse under its own weight.”

‘Modi- Shah regime’s vendetta’

Congress MP from Kerala, KC Venugopal too criticised the government and claimed, “The Modi-Shah regime’s vendetta against the Opposition knows no bounds. The witch hunt against Sonia Gandhi ji and LOP Rahul Gandhi ji, using the frivolous, politically motivated & fabricated National Herald case, is a clear example of their attempt at intimidation and silencing of opposition voices.”

“This reeks of desperation from the PM and Home Minister, who are failing to address the concerns of the people and are looking to continuously create distraction after distraction. However, it seems they have forgotten that this is a family that has given its blood for the country. Their petty tactics, using their lapdog agencies, are not going to deter us — in fact, it is only going to further strengthen our resolve against this divisive, destructive regime. We will hold protests outside ED offices across the country tomorrow to register our strong opposition to such politics of vendetta and intimidation,” he further added.

‘Yet another chapter of vindictive politics’

Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah responding on the ED chargesheet said, ” It is yet another chapter in the vindictive politics of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah.”

“This is not merely an act of retribution against two leaders of the Congress party. It is a clear warning by the Modi Government to opposition parties and all citizens who believe in democracy that dissent will not be tolerated. The Congress party, which has consistently faced such politics of hatred, will once again respond with the strength of truth and justice,” the chief minister said.

Calling out the Union government for using ED as a political tool, Siddaramaiah said, “The Modi-led Government has long been misusing the ED — a supposedly autonomous investigative agency — as a political weapon to target opposition leaders. In the latest instance, it has invoked baseless allegations of financial irregularities in the National Herald case to continue its campaign of political vendetta. It is evident that this action is being carried out under the direct instructions of Prime Minister Modi and Home Minister Shah.”

“The ED, which repeatedly harassed and mentally pressured senior Congress leaders including Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi under the guise of investigation, has now resorted to filing a chargesheet based entirely on fabricated narratives, after failing to find any evidence. Every Congress worker will take to the streets to protest this authoritarianism. This is not just a party issue — it is a fight to protect the Constitution and democracy. We call upon every citizen who believes in democratic values to stand with us in this resistance, he added.

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The National Herald case

The news paper National Herald is published by AJL and owned by Young Indian Private Limited. Congress leaders Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi are the majority shareholders of Young Indian, holding 38 percent shares each.

The controversy came into forefront when Associated Journals Limited (AJL) was taken over. In 2010, a new company named Young Indian Pvt Ltd (YIL) bought AJL’s debt from the Congress party for just ₹50 lakh. After that, YIL took control of AJL’s properties, worth over ₹2,000 crore.

Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi owned most of the shares in YIL, which led to accusations that they used Congress party funds to take control of AJL’s valuable properties.

The ED investigation began in 2021 after the Metropolitan Magistrate at Patiala House Courts in Delhi took cognisance of a private complaint filed by BJP leader Subramanian Swamy in 2014, and focused on the financial transactions between the Congress party, AJL, and YIL. The agency alleges that the Gandhis and other Congress leaders engaged in a scheme to misappropriate AJL’s assets for personal gain.

Recently, the ED has moved to take possession of properties linked to AJL, valued at approximately ₹661 crore, under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).

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