The Delhi High Court is scheduled to hear a criminal revision petition filed by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in the National Herald case on Monday. The petition challenges a trial court order that refused to take cognisance of the ED’s money laundering complaint against Congress Parliamentary Party Chairperson Sonia Gandhi, Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi, and other accused. The matter will be heard by a single-judge bench of Justice Ravinder Dudeja.

As per the cause list published on the Delhi High Court’s website, the ED has moved the court against an order passed by the Rouse Avenue Court. Earlier, Special Judge (PC Act) Vishal Gogne had dismissed the prosecution complaint filed under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). The trial court held that the ED’s complaint was not maintainable in law, thereby declining to take cognisance of the case.

While granting relief to Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi, the trial court clarified that the ED was free to continue its investigation in accordance with the law. Apart from the Gandhis, the ED had named Congress Overseas chief Sam Pitroda, Suman Dubey, Sunil Bhandari, Young Indian, and Dotex Merchandise Private Limited as proposed accused. The case has remained under intense public and political scrutiny due to the high-profile individuals involved.

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The National Herald case revolves around allegations that senior Congress leaders conspired to illegally acquire control over assets worth more than ₹2,000 crore belonging to Associated Journals Limited (AJL). AJL was the original publisher of the National Herald newspaper. The ED has alleged that these assets were taken over by Young Indian, a company in which Sonia and Rahul Gandhi are majority shareholders, for a nominal sum of ₹50 lakh.

The ED has maintained that the matter involves a serious economic offence and alleged that Young Indian was formed as part of a conspiracy to usurp AJL’s properties. It has further claimed that several fake transactions were carried out, including alleged fraudulent advance rent payments backed by fabricated rent receipts. The Congress leadership has consistently denied all allegations, calling the case unprecedented and politically motivated.

The controversy first came to light in 2012 when BJP leader Subramanian Swamy filed a complaint in a trial court. He accused Congress leaders of cheating and breach of trust in the process of acquiring AJL’s assets. With the Delhi High Court now set to examine the ED’s challenge, the case is expected to witness renewed legal and political attention in the coming days.

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