New Delhi: The Rouse Avenue Court on Friday issued notices to Congress leaders Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi and other accused persons in the National Herald money-laundering case.
Special judge Vishal Gogne said their “right to be heard” was available at the time of cognisance of the chargesheet, reported PTI.
“Right to be heard at any stage breathes life into fair trial,” the judge said, fixing the next date of hearing on May 8.
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) filed its chargesheet last month, naming Sonia, Rahul, Sam Pitroda and others in the National Herald case.
ED began its probe in 2021 after a magistrate court took cognisance of a 2014 complaint filed by BJP leader Subramanian Swamy.
The central probe agency has alleged that Sonia and Rahul orchestrated a ‘criminal conspiracy’ to ‘usurp’ properties of National Herald’s publisher, Associated Journals Ltd (AJL), worth Rs 2,000 crore, by transferring 99% of the shares for just Rs 50 lakh. The assets were acquired by a private firm, Young Indian, which is controlled by Sonia Gandhi and Rahul.
The assets were acquired by a private firm, Young Indian, which is controlled by Sonia and Rahul who are majority shareholders with 38% shares held by each of them.
The mother and son have been grilled for hours by the ED in this case.