ED Files Chargesheet Against Sonia and Rahul Gandhi in National Herald Case; Cognisance Hearing Set for April 25

The Enforcement Directorate has filed a chargesheet against Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi, and others in the National Herald case. The court will consider cognisance on April 25.

New Delhi, April 15, 2025 — The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has officially filed a chargesheet against top Congress leaders Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi in connection with alleged money laundering in the high-profile National Herald case. The chargesheet, submitted on April 9, also names senior Congress figures Sam Pitroda and Suman Dubey as accused.

The case will be taken up for cognisance hearing on April 25 by Special Judge Vishal Gogne, who is presiding over cases involving lawmakers. The judge also directed the ED to produce case diaries and submit a readable digital copy of the chargesheet.

Filed under Sections 3 and 4 of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), the chargesheet was prepared by ED’s Special Public Prosecutor NK Matta. The court emphasized the procedural need for pagination of the case documents and proper filing protocol.

The ED’s investigation is rooted in a 2014 private complaint by BJP leader Dr. Subramanian Swamy, which was taken cognisance of by a metropolitan magistrate at Patiala House Courts. Based on the predicate offence of alleged cheating and criminal conspiracy, currently being investigated by the CBI, the ED launched its money laundering probe in 2021.

In his observations, Judge Gogne highlighted that the predicate offence and the PMLA case must be tried by the same court. However, he clarified that the authority to transfer or assign the predicate offence case lies solely with the Principal District & Sessions Judge at Rouse Avenue Courts, not with his bench.

“The allegations in the ED complaint stem directly from the predicate offence. Hence, it is imperative to call the related files for perusal,” the court noted.

Both Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi are sitting Members of Parliament—Sonia in the Rajya Sabha and Rahul in the Lok Sabha. The case is expected to gain significant political and legal attention as it progresses in the coming weeks.