ED files chargesheet against Sonia, Rahul in Herald case

NEW DELHI: Paving the way for framing of criminal charges against former Congress president Sonia Gandhi and leader of the opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi and their trial in the National Herald money laundering case, Enforcement Directorate on April 9 filed a prosecution complaint (chargesheet) in the case involving alleged proceeds of crime worth Rs 5,000 crore.
The special MP/MLA court here on Tuesday fixed April 25 as the next date of hearing to decide on taking cognisance of the chargesheet, in what marks a major turn in the case against the Gandhis and people close to them. Sonia and Rahul, named as accused number one and two, respectively, in the chargesheet, unsuccessfully moved courts to get ED's proceedings quashed. Both are on bail.
ED sources said five individuals and two companies have been named as accused in the chargesheet. One is Young Indian, a firm in which the Gandhis have controlling stake. Other accused include their close family friends: Sam Pitroda, head of Congress's overseas branch, and Suman Dubey.
ED has reportedly produced documentary evidence of the money trail and other transactions in support of its claims. It has already questioned Sonia and Rahul, and Congress ex-treasurers Motilal Vora and Oscar Fernandes several times in the case in the past few years. Their statements are believed to be part of the prosecution complaint.
On Saturday, ED said it had started proceedings to take possession of attached Rs 750 crore properties of AJL, including land and buildings in Mumbai, Delhi and Lucknow.