National Herald Case: In a fresh trouble for senior Congress leaders Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi, the Enforcement Directorate has filed a chargesheet against the two and others on charges of money laundering in the National Herald case.

Special Judge Vishal Gogne examined the chargesheet, which was filed on April 9, on the point of cognisance and posted the matter for further proceedings on April 25. The chargesheet also names Congress leader Sam Pitroda and Suman Dubey as accused persons.

“The present prosecution complaint shall next be taken up for consideration on the aspect of cognisance before this court on April 25, 2025, when the special counsel for the ED and IO shall also ensure the production of the case diaries for perusal by the court,” the judge said, as quoted by news agency PTI.

The said chargesheet also names Congress leader Sam Pitroda, Suman Dubey, and others, including several firms. The prosecution complaint has been filed under Sections 44 and 45 of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002, for the offence of money laundering, as defined under Section 3, read with Section 70, and punishable under Section 4 of the PMLA, 2002.

Special Judge Vishal Gogne stated that, as per the submission of the counsel representing the ED, the predicate offence–recorded under complaint case No. 18/2019—includes charges under Sections 403, 406, and 420, read with Section 120(B) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), 1860, and is currently under trial at the Rouse Avenue Courts in New Delhi.

The court observed that under Section 44(1)(c) of the PMLA, the predicate offence must be tried in the same court that has taken cognisance of the money laundering offence under Section 3 of the PMLA. The court further noted that both offences–the predicate offence and the PMLA offence–must be adjudicated in the same jurisdiction.

The National Herald case is being heard in a Delhi court. The complaint was filed by BJP leader Subramanian Swamy against Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi, their associated companies, and other individuals. 

(With agencies’ Inputs)