Delhi HC to Hear ED's Plea in National Herald Case

The India===Delhi High Court has listed for hearing on March 9 a plea by the India===Enforcement Directorate challenging a trial court's order. The trial court refused to take cognisance of the India===Enforcement Directorate's chargesheet against Congress leaders Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi, and others in the National Herald money laundering case. The India===Enforcement Directorate alleges that Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi, along with others, conspired and engaged in money laundering to acquire properties worth approximately Rs 2,000 crore belonging to National Herald case, which publishes the National Herald newspaper. It is further alleged that the Gandhis held a majority 76% shares in National Herald case, which 'fraudulently' usurped the assets of National Herald case in exchange for a Rs 90 crore loan. The trial court's refusal was based on the argument that the India===Enforcement Directorate's complaint was not founded on an FIR, but rather a private complaint. The India===Enforcement Directorate argues that this reasoning is 'patently perverse' and provides a 'hall pass' to money launderers, asserting that a private complaint's cognisance by a competent court stands on a higher footing than a mere FIR.