In a significant development in the long-running National Herald case, the Delhi High Court has issued notices to Congress leaders Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi. The court has sought their response on a plea filed by the Enforcement Directorate (ED).
ED Challenges Trial Court's Order
The federal probe agency, the Enforcement Directorate, approached the High Court to challenge an order passed by a trial court. The specifics of the trial court's order, which the ED is contesting, form the crux of this latest legal move. The High Court's decision to seek a reply from the Gandhis indicates it will examine the ED's arguments before proceeding further.
The Allegations and the Accused
The Enforcement Directorate has accused several individuals and an entity of conspiracy and money laundering in this case. Besides Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi, the accused include late Congress leaders Motilal Vora and Oscar Fernandes. Also named are Suman Dubey, Sam Pitroda (Chandrasekhar), and a private company called Young Indian.
The case revolves around allegations of financial irregularities concerning the acquisition of the National Herald newspaper's assets by Young Indian. The ED's money laundering probe is based on a previous complaint filed by the Income Tax department.
Legal Proceedings and Next Steps
The notice issued by the Delhi High Court, dated 22 December 2025, sets the stage for the next phase of legal arguments. By seeking a reply from the Gandhis and other parties, the court is ensuring that all sides are heard before it decides on the ED's petition against the lower court's order.
This development is a crucial step in a case that has been a major point of political and legal contention for years. The response filed by Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi, and the other respondents will now determine the future course of this hearing in the High Court.
The outcome of this plea could have substantial implications for the trajectory of the overall investigation and any potential trial. All eyes will now be on the legal teams as they prepare their counter-arguments to the ED's challenge.
