Hearing on EDs Plea Against Sonia and Rahul Gandhi in National Herald Case Postponed to October 9

New Delhi, September 10 (Daily Kiran) : The Delhi High Court has postponed the hearing regarding the Enforcement Directorate’s (ED) plea against Sonia Gandhi, the Congress Parliamentary Party president, and Rahul Gandhi, the leader of the opposition in the Lok Sabha, in the National Herald money laundering case. The next hearing is scheduled for October 9.

Justice Manoj Jain’s single bench set the new date after adjourning the case. The ED is challenging a December 16, 2025 order from a special judge at the Rouse Avenue Court, which had refused to take cognizance of the ED’s prosecution complaint filed under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). The trial court deemed the complaint not maintainable under the law.

In addition to Sonia and Rahul Gandhi, other proposed accused in this case include Sam Pitroda, head of Congress Overseas, Suman Dubey, Sunil Bhandari, Young Indian, and Dotex Merchandising Private Limited. The ED argues that the trial court misinterpreted the law by believing that a prosecution complaint could not be filed under the PMLA based on a scheduled offense arising from a private complaint.

Earlier, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, representing the ED, contended that if the trial court’s interpretation stands, the PMLA would become “ineffective and meaningless.” The ED stated that a private complaint acknowledged by a competent court holds stronger grounds than an FIR registered by the police. The agency maintains that criminal law proceedings can commence through either a police investigation or a private complaint before a magistrate, hence the special court should not have dismissed the prosecution complaint on this basis.

Previously, the Delhi High Court remarked that the case is worthy of consideration and issued notices to Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi, and other respondents regarding the ED’s review petition.

The National Herald case involves allegations that senior Congress leaders conspired to gain illegal control over assets valued at over ₹2,000 crore belonging to Associated Journals Limited (AJL) through Young Indian for just ₹50 lakh. Sonia and Rahul Gandhi are majority shareholders in Young Indian.

This controversy began in 2012 when BJP leader Subramanian Swamy filed a private complaint in the trial court, accusing the acquisition of AJL of fraud and criminal breach of trust.