New Delhi, Dec 19 (NationPress) The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has filed a challenge in the Delhi High Court against a trial court's decision that declined to acknowledge its money laundering allegations against Congress Parliamentary Party Chairperson Sonia Gandhi, Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi, and others involved in the purported National Herald case.

The federal agency has submitted a criminal revision petition disputing the ruling by the Rouse Avenue Court, which had rejected the prosecution’s complaint lodged under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).

This matter is anticipated to be heard by the Delhi High Court as early as next week.

Previously, on Tuesday, Special Judge (PC Act) Vishal Gogne of the Rouse Avenue Court had ruled against taking cognizance of the ED’s complaint, stating that it lacked legal standing.

While providing relief to Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi, the court noted that the ED is free to pursue its investigation as per legal protocols.

In addition to the Gandhis, the ED has implicated Congress Overseas chief Sam Pitroda, Suman Dubey, Sunil Bhandari, Young Indian, and Dotex Merchandise Private Limited as potential defendants in this case.

This high-profile case centers around allegations that senior Congress leaders colluded to illegally seize control of assets exceeding Rs 2,000 crore belonging to Associated Journals Ltd (AJL), the original publisher of the National Herald newspaper, by transferring a mere Rs 50 lakh through Young Indian, a company where Sonia and Rahul Gandhi hold majority shares.

The ED asserts that the case involves a serious economic offense and claims that a conspiracy was created to establish Young Indian to misappropriate AJL’s properties at a nominal cost, primarily benefiting the leading figures of Congress.

Furthermore, the agency alleges that multiple senior Congress leaders were involved in fraudulent dealings, including the issuance of fake advance rent payments supported by counterfeit receipts. However, the Congress leadership has continually refuted these claims, labeling the money laundering case as “truly bizarre” and “unprecedented.”

The controversy surrounding the National Herald assets gained traction in 2012 when BJP leader Subramanian Swamy lodged a complaint in a trial court, accusing Congress leaders of engaging in deception and breach of trust during the acquisition of AJL.