The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has taken a significant step forward in the National Herald money laundering case, moving to seize properties linked to Congress leaders Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi, signaling a dramatic escalation in a long-running political and legal battle.
Here are the key developments and background:
ED's Latest Action
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On April 11, the ED issued notices to property registrars in Delhi, Mumbai, and Lucknow, where Associated Journals Ltd (AJL) properties are located.
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AJL, the original publisher of the National Herald newspaper, was acquired by Young Indian Ltd (YIL) — a company beneficially owned by Sonia and Rahul Gandhi.
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The ED's notices aim to take physical possession of these properties following the confirmation of an earlier provisional attachment.
Assets Involved
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The properties in question are valued at approximately Rs 661 crore.
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Additionally, AJL shares worth Rs 90.2 crore were also provisionally attached.
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The ED says the total proceeds of crime linked to AJL amount to Rs 988 crore.
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A separate notice has been sent to Jindal South West Projects, a tenant in Herald House (Mumbai), ordering them to deposit all future rent directly with the ED.
Background of the Case
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The case originated from a 2014 complaint by BJP leader Subramanian Swamy, who accused the Congress leadership of acquiring AJL’s massive assets for a nominal sum of Rs 50 lakh, through Young Indian.
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He alleged that the motive was to illegally gain control of real estate assets worth over Rs 2,000 crore.
Allegations and Findings
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According to the ED, the transfer and acquisition of AJL’s properties by YIL was a deliberate and illegal laundering of public money, orchestrated through a political-financial nexus.
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During the probe, the ED claimed to uncover:
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Bogus donations worth Rs 18 crore
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Advance rent payments of Rs 38 crore
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Rs 29 crore via questionable advertisement revenues
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These were allegedly used to generate illicit funds through the AJL-YIL structure.
Legal Status and Investigations
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The ED began its investigation in 2021, building upon Swamy’s private criminal complaint.
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Searches and seizures were carried out at multiple premises, and several financial documents were collected.
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Both the Delhi High Court and the Supreme Court had previously allowed the probe to continue, despite objections from Congress leaders.
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On April 10, the ED’s Adjudicating Authority confirmed the provisional attachment of the properties, paving the way for the latest enforcement move.
Political Ramifications
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The Congress party has long alleged that the case is politically motivated, aimed at targeting its top leadership ahead of elections.
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However, the ED maintains that its actions are based on financial evidence and not politics.
The ED’s action to seize the properties is likely to intensify the political confrontation, especially with the general elections on the horizon. It also places further legal pressure on the Gandhis, who remain central figures in the Congress Party’s leadership.
