Senior Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Sonia Gandhi have been formally accused of criminal conspiracy in connection with the National Herald–linked money laundering investigation. The allegations stem from a new FIR filed by the Delhi Police’s Economic Offences Wing (EOW), naming several individuals and companies tied to the decades-old publication.

Who Has Been Named in the Fresh FIR?

Along with the Gandhis, the FIR lists Sam Pitroda, Suman Dubey, Sunil Bhandari, and one unidentified person. Three companies—Associated Journals Limited (AJL), Young Indian, and Dotex Merchandise Pvt. Ltd.—are also under scrutiny.

Investigators claim there was a coordinated plan to illegally acquire control of AJL, the publishing company that once ran the National Herald, founded in 1938 by Jawaharlal Nehru and other Independence-era leaders.

According to the FIR, Dotex Merchandise, described as a possible shell entity operating out of Kolkata, transferred ₹1 crore to Young Indian, a not-for-profit entity where the two Gandhis together hold 76% stake. Using this arrangement, Young Indian allegedly paid ₹50 lakh to the Congress party and gained control over AJL — which reportedly holds properties valued at nearly ₹2,000 crore.

The FIR, dated October 3, is based on a report submitted by the Enforcement Directorate (ED). Under Section 66(2) of the PMLA, the ED can request another agency to register and investigate a related offence.

The timing of the FIR is notable, arriving just a day after a Delhi court postponed its decision on the National Herald matter to December 16.

Background: How the National Herald Case Began

The controversy first erupted in 2012, when BJP leader Subramanian Swamy approached a Delhi court alleging that Congress leaders had committed fraud and breach of trust during the takeover of AJL.

The National Herald ceased publication in 2008 due to financial strain, leaving AJL with a ₹90-crore debt. Over nearly a decade, the Congress party extended this amount as a loan to help the organisation stay afloat.

When AJL allegedly failed to repay the loan, the Congress claims it converted the debt into equity. Since political parties are legally barred from owning shares directly, these were transferred to Young Indian, founded in 2010.

Young Indian’s shareholding structure, as per Congress statements, allocates 38% each to Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi. The remainder is split among Motilal Vora, Oscar Fernandes, Sam Pitroda, and Suman Dubey.

Through this arrangement, Young Indian became the majority stakeholder of AJL, placing the two Gandhis in key decision-making roles.