Court Rejects ED's Money Laundering Charges in National Herald Case

A local court declined to acknowledge money laundering charges by the Enforcement Directorate against Congress leaders, including Sonia and Rahul Gandhi, in the National Herald case. The ED plans to appeal the decision, which currently rests on complaints not grounded in an FIR of a predicate offence.

In a significant legal development, a court decided not to take cognisance of the money laundering charges filed by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) against prominent Congress figures, including Sonia and Rahul Gandhi, in connection with the National Herald case.

The special judge, Vishal Gogne, highlighted that the charges stem solely from a private complaint, lacking the basis of an FIR of a predicate offence, making cognisance legally impermissible at this stage. Meanwhile, the Delhi Police's Economic Offences Wing has already initiated an FIR concerning the case.

The ED has lodged accusations against Congress leaders for an alleged conspiracy and laundering, implicating assets of approximately Rs 2,000 crore. The agency claims that the assets of Associated Journals Limited, publisher of the National Herald, were illicitly acquired by Young Indian, in which the Gandhis have a significant stake.

(With inputs from agencies.)