The Enforcement Directorate has alleged a “conspiracy” in which Congress leaders Sonia and Rahul Gandhi acquired the complete ownership of Associated Journals Limited, the publisher of National Herald newspaper, at Rs 50 lakh while the newspaper’s real estate value was more than Rs 2,000 crore.
As reported by Bar and Bench, the ED made these submissions through Additional Solicitor General SV Raju, who appeared for the agency before Special Judge Vishal Gogne at Delhi’s Rouse Avenue Court.
Raju claimed the Gandhis’ associates had been appointed as directors of Associated Journals Limited and that “fraudulent transactions were done to funnel money”, the report said. Raju also said the Gandhis wanted to “siphon away Rs 2,000 crore”.
He alleged fake rent receipts and fraudulent advance payments were made to AJL for years on instructions from top Congress leaders, the Financial Express reported. “Funds were routed to AJL in the guise of rent and advertisement payments, despite there being no legitimate financial activity. These transactions are fake and hold no economic substance,” he said.
The court was hearing arguments on whether to take cognisance of the ED’s prosecution complaint in the National Herald money laundering case. The newspaper, founded by Jawaharlal Nehru, shut down in 2008. In 2012, former BJP MP Subrmanian Swamy had filed a complaint accusing the Gandhis of misappropriating funds as proprietors of Young India Private Limited, which had taken over the newspaper’s publisher Associated Journals Limited.
In April this year, the ED filed its prosecution complaint against Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi, Sam Pitroda and others.
But what exactly is the National Herald case and why is the Congress claiming “political vendetta”? Watch this explainer on Newslaundry to find out.
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