A Delhi court's decision on Tuesday to refuse taking cognisance of the Enforcement Directorate's (ED) chargesheet in the National Herald case has triggered a fresh political storm between the ruling BJP and the opposition Congress.
Congress Claims Vindication, Calls Case "Baseless"
Senior lawyer and Congress MP Abhishek Singhvi, who led the party's legal defence, stated that the matter never had any merit. He accused the government of using media channels to exaggerate what he called groundless claims. "It was a strange case where no money was transferred and no property changed hands, but it was called money laundering," Singhvi asserted. He explained that Young India, the entity controlling Associated Journals Limited (AJL), cannot provide any money, dividend, or perks to its leaders. He emphasized that the court's refusal to take cognisance is the first legal step and demonstrates the case was baseless from the start.
Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge claimed vindication, recalling that when the case was initiated by the Modi government, the party leadership had declared its fearlessness. "If we didn't fear the British, BJP-RSS or Modi-Shah cannot scare us," Kharge said. He added that the court has now declared the government's actions illegal and foiled a conspiracy driven by political revenge. He pledged that the Congress would continue its fight for the people of India and to protect the Constitution.
BJP Counters: "Bail is Not Acquittal"
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) was quick to counter the Congress's narrative. Party spokesperson Gaurav Bhatia pointed out that the court's dismissal was on procedural grounds and not a verdict on the merits of the case. He stressed that there was no finding in favour of the accused. "The primary criminal case, which originated from the private complaint filed by Subramanian Swamy, alleging cheating, criminal conspiracy, and breach of trust, is still pending trial," Bhatia clarified. He insisted that a bail or procedural relief should not be misinterpreted as an acquittal.
The Legal and Political Fallout
The National Herald case has been a long-standing point of contention, with the BJP alleging financial irregularities in the acquisition of Associated Journals Limited by Young India, a company in which Congress leaders Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi are stakeholders. The Congress has consistently labelled it a politically motivated witch-hunt. Tuesday's court order has provided fresh ammunition to both sides. While the Congress sees it as a validation of its stance against central agencies being misused, the BJP maintains that the core legal battle is far from over. The development ensures that the issue will remain a fiery topic in India's political discourse, especially as the nation moves closer to future electoral battles.
