Daijiworld Media Network - New Delhi

New Delhi, Jul 9: The Enforcement Directorate’s (ED) money laundering case involving top Congress leaders, including Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi, resumed at the Rouse Avenue Court on Tuesday, with the agency presenting rejoinder arguments before the matter was adjourned until July 12 for further hearing.

The case also names Sam Pitroda and Suman Dubey in connection with the alleged irregularities surrounding the acquisition of Associated Journals Limited (AJL) — the original publisher of the National Herald newspaper — by Young Indian Pvt Ltd, where Sonia and Rahul Gandhi are majority stakeholders.

Additional Solicitor General (ASG) S.V. Raju, representing the ED, rejected arguments made on behalf of the Gandhis that they had no control over AJL’s assets. The ED insists that Young Indian was created as a front to usurp over Rs 2,000 crore worth of AJL properties for a nominal sum of Rs 50 lakh, thereby converting public assets for personal gain.

Previously, Rahul Gandhi's counsel, senior advocate R.S. Cheema, said the Congress party only intended to revive the legacy newspaper and that AJL was a non-profit entity with no commercial motives. Abhishek Manu Singhvi, appearing for Sonia Gandhi, labelled the ED’s money laundering allegations as “strange” and “unprecedented”, arguing that no tangible assets were directly involved.

However, the ED maintains that the takeover was fraudulent, involving “fake transactions” and manipulated financial records, with fraudulent rent advances paid over years under direction of senior Congress leaders.

Special Judge Vishal Gogne is hearing the matter on a day-to-day basis and will decide on whether to take cognisance of the ED’s prosecution complaint under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).

The controversy, which erupted in 2012 following a complaint by BJP leader Subramanian Swamy, continues to be a politically sensitive case, with both legal and public scrutiny intensifying as it progresses.