The winter session of Parliament is poised for a fiery start, with a fresh First Information Report (FIR) filed against Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi in the National Herald case threatening to ignite a political storm. The opposition Congress party has decried the action as a "mischievous politics of vendetta" orchestrated by the Modi-Shah duo, alleging harassment and intimidation of its top leadership.
The FIR, registered by the Delhi Police's Economic Offences Wing (EOW) on October 3, stems from a complaint filed by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) as part of its money laundering probe into the National Herald case. The ED alleges that properties allotted to Associated Journals Limited (AJL) at concessional rates for public welfare were illicitly diverted for personal gain. The FIR names Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi, along with Congress leaders Suman Dubey and Sam Pitroda, entities like Young Indian (YI), Dotex Merchandise Ltd, Associated Journals Ltd. (AJL) and unknown others. Charges include criminal conspiracy, dishonest misappropriation of property, criminal breach of trust, and cheating under various sections of the Indian Penal Code.
According to official sources, the ED's complaint details findings from its investigation into the National Herald money laundering case spanning from 2008 to 2024. The agency claims that the accused engaged in fraudulent activities, such as collecting bogus rents or generating fake revenue through sham advertisements, to launder illicit money under the guise of legitimate transactions. The ED had previously filed a chargesheet against Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi, and others in April.
The Congress party vehemently denies the allegations, asserting that the National Herald matter is a "completely bogus case" and that justice will ultimately prevail. Congress leader Sachin Pilot has accused the BJP government of using the case to divert attention from core issues slated to be raised in the Winter Session, such as concerns regarding the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) process and alleged "vote theft". Pilot highlighted that multiple states are undergoing the SIR process, facing significant challenges and increasing pressure on officials.
Senior advocate and Congress leader Abhishek Manu Singhvi criticized the "strategic and selective leaks" surrounding the FIR, noting the irony that the accused had not yet received a copy while its contents were seemingly known to the world through disclosures by the EOW and ED.
The National Herald case has been a long-standing point of contention between the Congress and the BJP. The case revolves around a loan given by the Congress party to Associated Journals Limited (AJL), which published the National Herald newspaper. Subsequently, Young Indian, a company in which Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi hold a majority stake, acquired AJL. The BJP has alleged that this acquisition was a means of gaining control over AJL's assets, valued at approximately Rs 2,000 crore.
As Parliament prepares to convene for the winter session, the battle lines are drawn. The Congress is expected to mount a strong defense against what it perceives as political persecution, while the BJP is likely to press for accountability and transparency in the National Herald case. The session promises to be a stormy one, with the FIR serving as a major flashpoint between the ruling party and the opposition. The unfolding events will be closely watched as they could have significant implications for the political landscape and the future of the Congress leadership.
