A significant legal development has occurred in the National Herald case with the Economic Offences Wing (EOW) of the Delhi Police filing a fresh FIR. This new report accuses Congress leaders Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi of criminal conspiracy. The FIR, a result of a complaint by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) and shared investigation findings, names them, along with six other individuals and three companies.
The alleged conspiracy centers on the fraudulent acquisition of Associated Journals Limited (AJL), a company historically linked to the Congress party. Under Section 66(2) of the PMLA, the ED directed the Delhi Police to register this scheduled offense. The accused list is extensive, featuring Sam Pitroda, the International Indian Overseas Congress chief, three other individuals, and three corporate entities: Associated Journals Limited (AJL), Young Indian, and Dotex Merchandise Private Limited. The FIR points to Dotex, a purported shell company from Kolkata, as having supplied Rs 1 crore used to establish Young Indian. This not-for-profit entity is where Sonia and Rahul Gandhi reportedly own 76% of the shares. Investigators allege that this transaction allowed Young Indian to assume control of AJL, which holds assets worth approximately Rs 2,000 crore, for an alleged payment of only Rs 50 lakh to the Congress. The FIR surfaces just ahead of a deferred court ruling, now set for December 16.