National Herald Case: Sonia-Rahul may face summons today as court set to decide

New Delhi: Rouse Avenue Court is going to give an important verdict on the National Herald case today on 29th November. This decision is considered very important for Congress. The court will decide whether summons should be issued to Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi or not. The Enforcement Directorate has filed a charge sheet in this case and now the court has to take cognizance of it. D says that his investigation has found concrete evidence of money laundering. 

What is the claim of the investigating agency?

In the charge sheet filed by the agency in April 2025, Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi have been made the main accused. Along with this, names of Indian Overseas Congress chief Sam Pitroda, Trakar Suman Dubey and Sunil Bhandari are also included. Young Indian Limited and Doctex Merchandise Private Limited have also been named accused. The investigating agency claims that it has enough material to prove the allegations. Now the court has to decide how much it agrees with these arguments.

What is the National Herald controversy? 

This case is not just about financial irregularities, but about an alleged conspiracy to take over property worth thousands of crores. The controversy began in 2012 when BJP leader Subramanian Swamy filed a complaint in the court. His allegation was that Congress leaders wrongly took control of Associated Journals Limited (AJL), the parent company of the National Herald newspaper. JL owned extremely valuable land assets in several cities including Delhi, Mumbai and Lucknow. It is alleged that Congress prepared a complete structure in a planned manner to control these properties.

Loan of Rs 90 crores and assets worth thousands of crores in Rs 50 lakhs

According to Swamy's allegation, Congress gave an interest-free loan of Rs 90 crore to AJL. After this, a company named Young Indian was formed, in which Sonia and Rahul Gandhi had 76 percent stake. It is alleged that after paying only Rs 50 lakh, AJL's loan of Rs 90 crore was transferred to Young Indian. As soon as the loan was transferred, 99 percent shares of AJL came to Young Indian. This means that AJL's assets worth thousands of crores indirectly came under the control of the Gandhi family. ED is calling it a direct case of money laundering.

What is the further legal process?

If the court issues summons today, Congress may strongly oppose it. The party has been continuously terming this matter as political vendetta. He says that the central government is misusing the investigating agencies. On the other hand, BJP says that this is action against corruption and the law is equal for all. The Gandhi family has already taken bail in this case. Now after the filing of the charge sheet, the matter has become more serious. If summons is issued, all the accused will have to apply for regular bail. If the court wants, it can also order arrest.