New Delhi: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has started the process of taking possession of properties linked to Congress leaders Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi in the National Herald money-laundering case.
The central agency issued notices to property registrars in Delhi, Mumbai and Lucknow, where the assets of Congress-controlled Associated Journals Limited (AJL) are located.
The case pertains to allegations of financial irregularities and misappropriation of funds vis-à-vis the acquisition of AJL, which once published the National Herald newspaper, by Young Indian Limited (YIL).
A complaint was filed by Subramanian Swamy, alleging that Young Indian took over AJL’s assets in a “malicious manner” to gain control of properties worth over Rs 2,000 crore.
ED investigations revealed alleged laundering of proceeds of crime amounting to Rs 988 crore, linked to AJL’s assets. Former Congress president Sonia and current leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul have been named as accused in the case.
The probe agency provisionally attached immovable properties valued at Rs 661 crore in November 2023, along with AJL shares worth Rs 90.2 crore.
A notice has also been issued to Jindal South West Projects, which currently occupies three floors in Herald House, Mumbai. The Jindal group company has been directed to deposit rent payments directly with the ED.
