Rahul, Sonia Gandhi named in fresh FIR in National Herald Money Laundering Case

Mangalore Today News Network

New Delhi, Nov 30, 2025: Senior Congress leaders Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi have been booked on charges of criminal conspiracy in the National Herald money laundering case, following a fresh FIR filed by the Delhi Police Economic Offences Wing (EOW). The case names six individuals, including the Gandhis, and three companies.

Also named in the FIR are Sam Pitroda and three others, along with Associated Journals Limited (AJL), Young Indian, and Dotex Merchandise Pvt. Ltd. The FIR alleges a conspiracy to fraudulently acquire control of AJL, the publisher of the now-defunct National Herald.

According to the complaint forwarded by the Enforcement Directorate, Dotex Merchandise—described as a Kolkata-based shell firm—provided ₹1 crore to Young Indian. The amount allegedly enabled Young Indian, in which the Gandhis jointly held 76% shareholding, to pay ₹50 lakh to the Congress and assume control of AJL, which owns assets valued at around ₹2,000 crore.

The FIR, dated October 3, comes a day after a Delhi court postponed its order in the National Herald case to December 16. The matter traces back to 2012, when BJP leader Subramanian Swamy accused Congress leaders of cheating and breach of trust in AJL’s acquisition.

The Congress has maintained that AJL, burdened by ₹90 crore in unpaid dues when the National Herald shut down in 2008, was extended loans by the party over a decade. When AJL failed to repay, the loan was converted into equity, which was then allotted to Young Indian, a not-for-profit company barred from distributing profits.

Young Indian eventually became the majority shareholder of AJL, with Sonia and Rahul Gandhi holding 38% each and the remaining shares distributed among senior Congress leaders.