Court Declines to Take Cognisance in National Herald Case

New Delhi, Dec 2025 : In a significant legal relief to Congress Parliamentary Party Chairperson Sonia Gandhi and Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi, a Delhi court on Tuesday refused to take cognisance of the Enforcement Directorate’s (ED) prosecution complaint in the alleged National Herald money laundering case.

Special Judge (PC Act) Vishal Gogne of the Rouse Avenue Court ruled that the complaint filed by the ED under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) was not maintainable at this stage. The order came after detailed consideration of the submissions made by both sides and the material placed on record by the investigating agency.

Besides Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi, the ED had named Congress Overseas chief Sam Pitroda, Suman Dubey, Sunil Bhandari, Young Indian, and Dotex Merchandise Private Limited as proposed accused in the case. The court, however, declined to proceed against any of the individuals or entities by refusing to take cognisance of the prosecution complaint.

At the same time, the court clarified that the Enforcement Directorate is free to continue its investigation strictly in accordance with law. The judge made it clear that the present order does not bar the agency from pursuing further inquiry if permissible under the legal framework.

The case relates to allegations that senior Congress leaders conspired to acquire control over assets worth more than Rs 2,000 crore belonging to Associated Journals Limited (AJL), the original publisher of the National Herald newspaper. According to the ED, the assets were allegedly taken over through Young Indian, a company in which Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi are majority shareholders, by paying a nominal amount of Rs 50 lakh.

The ED has maintained that the matter involved a serious economic offence, alleging that Young Indian was created as part of a conspiracy to take control of AJL’s properties. The agency further claimed that the alleged transactions were structured in a manner that benefitted the Congress leadership and involved questionable financial practices, including what it described as fake rent receipts and sham advance rent payments.

Earlier, on November 29, the Rouse Avenue Court had deferred its decision after reserving orders on November 7. At that time, the court observed that it needed to examine transaction records, alleged rent receipts, and fund flow patterns more closely before deciding whether the prosecution complaint met the legal threshold for taking cognisance under the PMLA.

The Congress leadership has consistently rejected the ED’s allegations, describing the case as politically motivated and legally untenable. Party leaders have repeatedly termed the proceedings as “strange” and “unprecedented,” asserting that there was no element of money laundering in the matter.

The controversy surrounding the National Herald case dates back to 2012, when BJP leader Subramanian Swamy filed a private complaint in a trial court, accusing Congress leaders of cheating and breach of trust in the takeover of AJL. Since then, the case has remained a politically and legally sensitive issue, drawing national attention at various stages.

Team Maverick.