The Delhi High Court on Friday took a significant step in the long-running National Herald case, issuing formal notices to senior Congress leaders Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi. The court's action came on a plea filed by the Enforcement Directorate (ED), which is seeking to overturn a trial court's order.
ED Challenges Trial Court's Decision
The central probe agency has moved the High Court to challenge a trial court's decision that refused to take cognisance of its money laundering complaint. The Enforcement Directorate alleges that the accused persons, including the Gandhis, were involved in acquiring assets worth a staggering Rs 2,000 crore for a mere Rs 50 lakh in the National Herald matter.
Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, representing the ED, appeared before the bench of Justice Ravinder Dudeja. He began the proceedings by placing a detailed factual chronology of the case before the court to support the agency's appeal.
Legal Heavyweights Represent Both Sides
On the other side, the Congress leaders were represented by senior advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi. The High Court, after hearing initial arguments, has officially issued notices to Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi, and five other individuals associated with the case.
The court has scheduled the next hearing on this matter for March 12, 2026, indicating a lengthy legal battle ahead. This date was set after the court resumed hearing the ED's plea, which seeks a stay on the trial court's earlier order. Further detailed arguments from both sides are expected when the case is taken up again in two years.
A Long-Running Political and Legal Saga
The National Herald case has been a major point of political contention and legal scrutiny for years. The Enforcement Directorate's investigation is based on allegations of financial irregularities and money laundering in the acquisition of Associated Journals Limited (AJL), the company that published the National Herald newspaper, by Young Indian Pvt Ltd, in which the Gandhis hold a majority stake.
With the High Court now involved and a hearing date set far into the future, the case is poised to remain in the national spotlight, intersecting the realms of law, politics, and media.
