New Delhi, Apr 25: A Delhi court on Friday declined to issue notices, for the time being, to Congress leaders Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi, and others in the National Herald money laundering case filed by the Enforcement Directorate (ED).
Special Judge Vishal Gogne of the Rouse Avenue Court directed the ED to rectify procedural defects and place additional documents on record before seeking issuance of notice to the accused.
The ED had argued that notices were required at this stage since the law mandates that cognisance of a prosecution complaint—or chargesheet—cannot be taken without hearing the accused. However, the court refused to act immediately, stating, “I cannot pass such an order until satisfied.” The matter will now be heard on May 2. The case centres on the transfer of a Rs 90 crore loan from the Congress party to Associated Journals Ltd (AJL), publisher of the National Herald, which was later assigned to Young Indian for just Rs 50 lakh. The ED has alleged misappropriation of assets worth over Rs 2,000 crore in the transaction.
The case originated from a private complaint filed by former Union Minister Subramanian Swamy, who accused the Gandhis and others—including the late Motilal Vora, Oscar Fernandes, Suman Dubey, and Sam Pitroda—of cheating, criminal conspiracy, and misappropriation of property. The ED filed its chargesheet in the case on April 15.
