ED Claims Sonia and Rahul Gandhi Earned ₹142 Crores from National Herald Case

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) informed a Delhi court on Wednesday that Sonia and Rahul Gandhi, accused in the National Herald case, allegedly profited ₹142 crores from criminal activities. Additional Solicitor General SV Raju, representing the federal agency, stated that the accused enjoyed the proceeds of crime until the ED seized assets worth ₹751.9 crores linked to National Herald in November 2023.

 

In relation to the National Herald case, BJP leader Shehzad Poonawalla remarked that if something is stolen, it must be returned. He emphasized that there is substantial evidence showing how ₹5000 crores of public assets were beneficially owned by Sonia and Rahul Gandhi. The ED further asserted that the Gandhi family not only laundered money obtained from criminal activities but also retained that wealth. The agency indicated that a prima facie case of money laundering has been established against the Gandhi family, Sam Pitroda, Suman Dubey, and others involved in the National Herald matter.

 

Meanwhile, the judge instructed the federal agency to provide a copy of the complaint to the complainant, Subramanian Swamy. The ED recently filed its charges after initiating its investigation in 2021, following a complaint lodged in 2012. However, the investigation under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) began in 2014, triggered by a trial court's acknowledgment of irregularities based on a private criminal complaint filed by Swamy in 2012.