Lagatar24 Desk
New Delhi: Senior Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Sonia Gandhi have been booked under criminal conspiracy in a fresh FIR linked to the National Herald money-laundering case. The FIR filed by the Economic Offences Wing of Delhi Police names six accused and comes just a day after a Delhi court postponed its decision in the case to December 16, intensifying the high-profile political and legal battle.
FIR Alleges Fraudulent Takeover of AJL Through Young Indian
The FIR also lists Sam Pitroda and three others, along with Associated Journals Limited (AJL), Young Indian, and Dotex Merchandise Pvt Ltd as accused entities. Investigators claim the accused executed a conspiracy to fraudulently acquire control of AJL — the publisher of the now-defunct National Herald newspaper. Dotex Merchandise, alleged to be a shell company based in Kolkata, is reported to have provided ₹1 crore to Young Indian, which enabled the latter to pay the Congress ₹50 lakh and seize control of AJL, whose assets are estimated at around ₹2,000 crore. The FIR dated October 3 is based on the Enforcement Directorate’s findings under Section 66(2) of the PMLA.
A Case Rooted in 2012 Allegations and a Complex Shareholding Structure
The National Herald case traces back to 2012, when BJP leader Subramanian Swamy accused Congress leaders of cheating and breach of trust in the acquisition of AJL. The publication halted operations in 2008 due to financial losses, while AJL owed the Congress ₹90 crore, provided over 10 years in nearly 100 instalments. According to the Congress, the failure to repay this loan led to its conversion into equity. Since political parties cannot legally hold equity, the shares were transferred to Young Indian — a not-for-profit company formed in 2010. Rahul and Sonia Gandhi each own 38% stake in Young Indian, with remaining shares held by Motilal Vora, Oscar Fernandes, Sam Pitroda and Suman Dubey, giving the Gandhis majority control of AJL through the company.
