A Delhi court's recent decision to not take cognizance of a money laundering chargesheet against Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi, and others in the National Herald case has ignited a fresh political firestorm, with the Congress party targeting the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and calling for the Prime Minister's resignation. The Congress claims the court order exposes the "illegality" and "malafide" intentions of the Modi government, while the BJP insists that the Gandhis are still accused and the court's decision is merely a procedural matter.
On Tuesday, the Rouse Avenue Court declined to act on the Enforcement Directorate's (ED) chargesheet, stating that the case stemmed from a private complaint filed by BJP leader Subramanian Swamy and not a First Information Report (FIR). Special Judge Vishal Gogne stated that the ED's complaint under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) was legally unsustainable without a registered FIR. The court added that the ED could pursue legal remedies if it chooses to do so.
The Congress party has seized upon this ruling as a vindication of their long-standing claim that the National Herald case is a politically motivated attack. Following the court's decision, the Congress launched a scathing attack on the BJP, alleging that the Modi government has been misusing investigative agencies to target the opposition. Congress leaders have described the case as a "political witch hunt" and a "campaign of political vendetta, propaganda, and reputation assassination".
Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge stated that the court order had exposed the illegality of the Modi government's actions and foiled a conspiracy driven by political revenge. K.C. Venugopal, Congress General Secretary, called the verdict a "tight slap" on those seeking to besmirch Sonia and Rahul Gandhi. The party has asserted that it will continue to fight for truth, democracy, and constitutional values. Some Congress leaders have gone as far as calling for the Prime Minister's resignation, though this was not mentioned in all sources.
In response, the BJP has downplayed the court's decision, asserting that it provides "no relief" to the Gandhis and does not exonerate them from the charges. BJP leaders argue that the court has not commented on the merits of the case and the primary criminal case remains pending. Gaurav Bhatia, BJP spokesperson, stated that the dismissal was purely procedural and the Gandhis are "very much" accused in the case. The BJP also pointed out that the court had rejected the Congress's request for a copy of the FIR, which they claim is a setback for the party.
The ED has said it is likely to challenge the Rouse Avenue Court's order and may file an appeal. According to sources, the ED believes the court may have overlooked key portions of the Supreme Court's ruling in the Vijay Madanlal Choudhary case. The agency is also reportedly planning to file a fresh chargesheet, incorporating the recent FIR filed by the Delhi Police's Economic Offences Wing (EOW). The EOW has already begun its probe, with reports indicating that it has issued a notice to Karnataka Congress leader D.K. Shivakumar.
The National Herald case revolves around allegations of financial irregularities in the acquisition of Associated Journals Limited (AJL), the publisher of the National Herald newspaper, by Young Indian Private Limited. The ED has alleged that the Gandhi family "abused" their position to acquire AJL properties worth ₹2,000 crore for a mere ₹50 lakh. The Congress party has denied these allegations, claiming that Young Indian was trying to revive AJL and no assets were transferred.
The court's refusal to take cognizance of the ED's chargesheet has added another layer of complexity to this long-standing case. While the Congress views it as a victory and evidence of political vendetta, the BJP maintains that the legal battle is far from over. With the ED likely to appeal and file a fresh chargesheet, the National Herald case is set to remain a contentious issue in Indian politics for the foreseeable future.
