The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Friday filed an appeal in the Delhi High Court against Congress leaders Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi, taking forward its fight in the long-running National Herald money laundering case.
This appeal challenges the order of the Delhi trial court which had refused to take cognizance of the ED’s money laundering complaint, which had given some relief to senior Congress leaders in the matter.
ED claim
This controversial case started with the ED’s investigation, which alleged that Sonia and Rahul Gandhi had tried to launder money in a property deal related to Associated Journals Limited, publisher of the National Herald newspaper. ED claims that the value of these properties is worth thousands of crores of rupees and this case comes under the ambit of economic offences.
Enforcement Directorate moves the Delhi High Court challenging the trial court’s order that declined to take cognizance of its money laundering complaint against Congress leaders Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi in the National Herald case. The agency has questioned the trial…
— ANI (@ANI) December 19, 2025
Recently, Delhi’s Rouse Avenue Court refused to take cognizance of a money laundering complaint filed by the ED, thereby putting the case in cold water. The court termed this complaint as inappropriate under the law and said that it is not acceptable in the case. The court also said that there is not sufficient legal basis in support of taking cognizance of the ED complaint.
ED has challenged this decision point by point and has requested the High Court to re-examine the case and order the lower court to take cognizance and summon the accused. The agency says that the lower court did not interpret sufficient evidence properly and hence important facts were ignored. In the appeal, ED has also said that this decision may affect the raids, seizures and cases related to the investigation worth Rs 5,000 crore, hence there is a need for an impartial and detailed investigation.
The background of the case is that this controversy started in 2011 when BJP leader Subramanian Swamy filed a private complaint, on the basis of which the matter went to court and later the ED filed a charge sheet under PMLA. ED claims that Congress leaders acquired AJL’s assets at a very low price (about ₹90.21 lakh) through L&D company Young Indian, thereby making a profit. Apart from Sonia and Rahul Gandhi, names of other Congress leaders were also among the accused.
The Delhi court made it clear that the investigation into money laundering under PMLA can be initiated only when the First Information Report (FIR) is filed and on the basis of that, ECIR (information like FIR of the investigating agency) is filed and then charge sheet is filed. The court said that in the present case the necessary grounds for initiating action under PMLA i.e. FIR were not present. Therefore the complaint cannot be accepted.
Congress’s allegation
After the lower court’s decision, the Congress party described it as a major legal victory and alleged that the decision weakens the charges which they said were politically motivated. Congress leaders said the court’s decision proved that there was no solid legal basis in the case and the action was based on political vendetta. The party said that this decision has strengthened faith in democratic institutions and the rule of law.
At the same time, ED has made it clear that it will continue the investigation and is requesting the High Court to overturn the lower court’s decision so that the case can move forward. The agency believes that there is significant evidence in this dispute and it requires an impartial judicial review. In further action, it will be seen to what extent the High Court accepts the claims of ED and whether this case will be ready for hearing again soon.
This entire matter has also given rise to a heated debate within Indian politics, where Congress and BJP are accusing each other that this matter is not a legal action but a part of political strategy. Now the next phase of this legal battle is being seen in the High Court, where it has to be decided whether the case can be taken forward by changing the decision of the lower court or not.
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