New Delhi, September 10, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
The Delhi High Court on Thursday deferred the hearing on the Enforcement Directorate’s (ED) criminal revision petition challenging a trial court order that refused to take cognisance of the agency’s prosecution complaint against Congress Parliamentary Party Chairperson Sonia Gandhi, Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi and others in the alleged National Herald money laundering case.
A single-judge Bench of Justice Manoj Jain listed the matter for further hearing on October 9.
The ED has challenged the December 16, 2025 order of a Special Judge at the Rouse Avenue Court, which declined to take cognisance of the agency’s prosecution complaint under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), holding that the complaint was not maintainable in law.
Besides Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi, the ED has named Congress Overseas chief Sam Pitroda, Suman Dubey, Sunil Bhandari, Young Indian and Dotex Merchandise Private Limited as proposed accused.
The agency has argued that the trial court erred in holding that a PMLA prosecution complaint cannot be based on a scheduled offence arising from a private complaint. The ED has maintained that criminal proceedings can be initiated either through a police investigation or a private complaint before a Magistrate.
Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the ED, had earlier argued that accepting the trial court’s interpretation would render the PMLA “otiose and redundant”.
The agency has also contended that cognisance by a competent court on a private complaint stands on a stronger footing than an FIR registered by police, and that the Special Judge could not have rejected its prosecution complaint solely on that ground.
The Delhi High Court had earlier observed that the matter required consideration and issued notices to Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi and the other respondents on the revision petition.
The case pertains to allegations that senior Congress leaders conspired to acquire control over assets worth more than Rs. 2,000 crore belonging to Associated Journals Ltd (AJL), the original publisher of the National Herald newspaper, through Young Indian. The ED alleges that Rs. 50 lakh was paid for the transaction and that Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi are majority shareholders in Young Indian.
The controversy dates back to 2012, when BJP leader Subramanian Swamy filed a private complaint before a trial court alleging cheating and breach of trust in the acquisition of AJL by Young Indian.
FOLLOW NOW
