Delhi High Court Grants Three Weeks for Congress Leaders to Respond in Money Laundering Case

The Delhi High Court has granted a three-week extension for Congress leaders Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi to respond to the Enforcement Directorate's petition concerning the National Herald money laundering case. The trial court had previously rejected the ED's charge sheet, prompting the ED to seek judicial intervention. The case, which involves allegations of conspiracy and significant financial misconduct, is set for a hearing on September 10. This development highlights ongoing legal challenges faced by prominent political figures in India, raising questions about the implications for the Congress party and its leadership. Stay tuned for further updates as the situation unfolds.

By Narendra Chaudhary Jul 27, 2026, 18:12 IST

Court Proceedings Overview

On Monday, the Delhi High Court provided Congress leaders Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi, and other defendants three weeks to submit their responses to the Enforcement Directorate's (ED) petition regarding the National Herald money laundering case. The trial court had previously declined to acknowledge the ED's charge sheet. Justice Manoj Jain announced that the hearing for this case is scheduled for September 10. In addition to the Gandhi family, notices were also issued to Suman Dubey, Sam Pitroda, Young Indian, Dotex Merchandising Private Limited, and Sunil Bhandari in relation to the ED's petition.

Hearing Details

During the hearing, the court stated that it could not proceed with the case at that moment due to a heavy workload, as two other cases were also on the agenda. The senior counsel representing the defendants requested additional time to respond to the ED's petition. Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, representing the ED, argued that the trial court had made a significant error, noting that despite being granted two months to respond, no reply had been filed yet. He emphasized that this matter is fundamentally a legal question. The court subsequently ordered that the date for arguments be set for September 10, and if no response has been submitted by then, it must be filed within three weeks.

Background of the Case

On December 22, 2025, the High Court issued a notice regarding the ED's main petition and its plea to stay the trial court's order from December 16. The order indicated that the agency's complaint could not be recognized under the law as it was not based on an FIR. The ED has accused Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi, and late Congress leaders Motilal Vora and Oscar Fernandes, along with Suman Dubey and Sam Pitroda, of conspiracy and money laundering. The agency claims that approximately ₹2,000 crores worth of assets belonging to the company Associated Journals Limited (AJL), which publishes the National Herald newspaper, were acquired fraudulently. Furthermore, it alleges that the Gandhi family's Young Indian holds a 76% stake, which facilitated the illicit acquisition of AJL's assets in exchange for a ₹90 crore loan. Earlier, on February 19, Mehta had informed the High Court that this case involves "a significant legal question" and criticized the trial court's reasoning for not taking cognizance of the matter as "entirely incorrect and unreasonable." He argued that the discussion should focus on legal aspects rather than facts, as the trial court's conclusions are obstructing other cases.