ED Seizes ₹751.9 Cr Worth Properties Linked to Rahul & Sonia Gandhi in National Herald Case

New Delhi: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has provisionally attached properties valued at ₹751.9 Crore linked to Young Indian, a company associated with Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Sonia Gandhi, in connection with the National Herald case. The attached assets include National Herald Houses in Delhi and Mumbai, as well as Nehru Bhavan in Lucknow.

The ED’s investigation, part of a money laundering case, centers around alleged cheating, conspiracy, and criminal breach of trust in the acquisition of Associated Journals Limited (AJL), the entity behind the National Herald newspaper, by Young Indian Pvt Ltd.

ED has issued an order to provisionally attach properties worth Rs. 751.9 Crore in a money-laundering case investigated under the PMLA, 2002. Investigation revealed that M/s. Associated Journals Ltd. (AJL) is in possession of proceeds of crime in the form of immovable properties…

— ED (@dir_ed) November 21, 2023

The ED’s order states that AJL possesses proceeds of crime in the form of immovable properties across cities like Delhi, Mumbai, and Lucknow, amounting to ₹661.69 Crore. Additionally, Young Indian holds proceeds of crime totaling ₹90.21 Crore in the form of equity shares in AJL.

Both Sonia and Rahul Gandhi have been questioned by the ED in connection with this case. Congress spokesperson Abhishek Singhvi dismissed the ED’s actions as a desperate attempt to divert attention from state elections, stating on social media that the reports reflect “petty vendetta tactics” and emphasizing that the Congress and the opposition will not be intimidated.

The Congress party has consistently accused the central government of using investigative agencies for political vendettas, maintaining that there is no evidence of money laundering or any illicit financial transactions. The ED’s move comes amid ongoing elections, and the Congress alleges that the attachment of AJL properties is a tactic to influence public opinion during this time.