A new First Information Report (FIR) has been filed in the National Herald case, leveling charges of criminal conspiracy against prominent Congress leaders Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi. The Economic Offences Wing (EOW) of the Delhi Police initiated the FIR, which also implicates six other individuals and three companies. This development stems from a complaint originally lodged by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on October 3. The ED shared its investigative findings, prompting the Delhi Police to register the new case under Section 66(2) of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), which allows for directing another agency to file a scheduled offense.
The FIR details an alleged scheme to fraudulently acquire Associated Journals Limited (AJL), a company with historical ties to the Congress party. Among the accused named are Indian Overseas Congress Chief Sam Pitroda, along with three other individuals and three companies: Associated Journals Limited (AJL), Young Indian, and Dotex Merchandise Private Limited. Kolkata-based Dotex, described as a shell company, allegedly provided Rs 1 crore crucial for the formation of Young Indian. This not-for-profit entity is where Sonia and Rahul Gandhi reportedly hold a significant 76% shareholding. It is alleged that through this maneuver, Young Indian gained control of AJL, which possesses assets valued at approximately Rs 2,000 crore, by paying a mere Rs 50 lakh to the Congress party. This FIR’s emergence follows closely on the heels of a Delhi court deferring its decision in the National Herald case to December 16.