- By Aditya Jha
- Sun, 30 Nov 2025 10:25 AM (IST)
- Source:JND
National Herald Case: In a fresh First Information Report (FIR) in the National Herald money laundering case, senior Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Sonia Gandhi have been charged with a criminal case. The Economic Offences Wing of the Delhi Police has filed the FIR against six individuals, accusing them of involvement in the criminal conspiracy to take over the parent company of National Herald. The Delhi Police filed the FIR on October 3 after receiving an investigation report from the Enforcement Directorate (ED). The top Congress leaders are accused of involvement in breach of trust in the acquisition of the firm that published the newspaper founded by Jawaharlal Nehru and other freedom fighters.
Gandhis Charged With Criminal Case
The top Congress leaders, Rahul Gandhi and Sonia Gandhi, are accused of involvement in the criminal conspiracy to "fraudulently take over the Associated Journals Limited (AJL)", the parent firm of the National Herald newspaper. Apart from Gandhis, the Delhi Police has also framed the charges against party associate Sam Pitroda and three other individuals. The authority has also named three firms, Associated Journals Limited (AJL), Young Indian, and Dotex Merchandise Private Limited.
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Dotex Merchandise allegedly provided Rs 1 crore to Young Indian to gain control of the AJL, which has assets worth approximately Rs 2,000 crore. As per the FIR, Young Indian paid Rs 50 lakh to Congress to take control of the AJL. The top Congress leaders are accused of using their influence to acquire the AJL, as they have a 76 per cent share in Young Indian.
What Is National Herald Case?
Earlier in 2012, BJP leader Subramanian Swamy filed a case against the Gandhis in a local court, accusing them of involvement in cheating in the acquisition of the AJL. The National Herald stopped functioning in 2008 due to financial constraints, and the Congress party gave a loan of Rs 90 crore to AJL to manage the crisis. However, the equity shares were allotted to the Young Indian after the AJL failed to repay the loan, said Congress.