National Herald Case: Fresh FIR filled against Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi
National Herald Case: The Economic Offences Wing (EOW) of the Delhi Police has registered a fresh FIR against Congress leaders Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi in the National Herald case. Along with Rahul and Sonia, six other individuals and three companies have also been named as accused in the FIR.
The FIR alleges a criminal conspiracy to fraudulently acquire Associated Journals Limited (AJL), a Congress-controlled company with assets worth Rs 2,000 crore. The FIR is based on a complaint filed by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) as part of its ongoing money laundering investigation into the case.
The ED used Section 66(2) of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) to ask the police to register a criminal predicate offence, which strengthens the money laundering probe. The FIR was registered on October 3, 2025. The core of the complaint alleges criminal conspiracy to “fraudulently” acquire Associated Journals Limited (AJL), the parent company of the National Herald newspaper.
It alleges that government-allotted properties, given to AJL at concessional rates for public welfare activities (publishing newspapers), were illegally diverted for personal gain by the beneficial owners of Young Indian (YI). The ED claims that YI, where the Gandhis hold a majority stake, acquired AJL’s assets (allegedly worth Rs 2,000 crore) for a nominal sum (reported to be Rs 50 lakh).
The EOW has pressed charges under sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), including: Section 120B (Criminal Conspiracy), Section 420 (Cheating), Section 406 (Criminal Breach of Trust), Section 403 (Dishonest Misappropriation of Property).
The FIR also names other individuals and entities, including senior Congress leaders like Sam Pitroda and Suman Dubey, as well as the companies Young Indian (YI), Associated Journals Ltd (AJL), and Dotex Merchandise Pvt Ltd. The ED had already filed a chargesheet (Prosecution Complaint) under the PMLA in April 2025.
A Delhi court is yet to take cognisance of that chargesheet, with the next date of hearing scheduled for December 16, 2025. The Congress party has strongly denied the allegations, calling the investigation a “bogus case” and accusing the current government of engaging in “politics of harassment, intimidation, and vendetta.”
Also Read: Karnataka CM Change Climax: Mallikarjun Kharge made big statement
