A COURT here on Tuesday refused to take cognisance of the Enforcement Directorate’s money laundering charge against Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi, Sonia Gandhi, and five others in the National Herald case. The ED said it would file an appeal against the court order. Special Judge Vishal Gogne noted the chargesheet filed in the case is based on an investigation into a complaint by a private person and not on an FIR of a predicate offence. Its cognisance is impermissible in law, the judge said. Reading out the operative part from the order, the judge said the Delhi Police’s Economic Offences Wing has already lodged an FIR in the case, and hence it will be premature to adjudicate on ED’s arguments in the case based on merits.

 

The ED has accused Congress leaders Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi, as well as late party leaders Motilal Vora and Oscar Fernandes, along with Suman Dubey, Sam Pitroda, and a private company, Young Indian, of conspiracy and money laundering. It has been alleged that they acquired properties worth approximately Rs 2,000 crore belonging to Associated Journals Limited (AJL), which publishes the National Herald newspaper. The investigation agency further alleged that the Gandhis held the majority 76 per cent shares in Young Indian, which “fraudulently” usurped the assets of AJL in exchange for a Rs 90 crore loan.

 

Gandhis not entitled to copy of police FIR in Herald case, rules Delhi court: A court here on Tuesday set aside a magisterial court’s order directing the Delhi Police to provide a copy of an FIR registered by them against Rahul Gandhi and Sonia Gandhi in connection with the National Herald case. Special Judge Vishal Gogne was hearing a plea filed by the Delhi Police, challenging the magisterial court’s order, arguing that Rahul Gandhi, Sonia Gandhi and others mentioned in the case are not entitled to a copy of the FIR. The judge, however, ruled that the accused may be informed that the FIR has been registered.

 

Delhi Police, on October 3, filed an FIR against Congress leaders Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi, and other accused in the National Herald case on a complaint by the ED as part of the federal probe agency’s money laundering probe into charges that the Gandhis “abused” their position for personal gains. The police mentioned criminal conspiracy, dishonest misappropriation of property, criminal breach of trust and cheating charges in the FIR that names the Gandhis, Congress leaders Suman Dubey and Sam Pitroda, entities like the Young Indian (YI) and Dotex Merchandise Ltd, Dotex promoter Sunil Bhandari, Associated Journals Ltd (AJL), and unknown others.