Delhi court refuses to issue notices to Sonia, Rahul Gandhi in National Herald case

HYDERABAD: A Delhi court on Friday heard the Enforcement Directorate’s (ED) petition seeking issuance of notices to Congress leaders Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi in connection with the money laundering case related to the National Herald.

However, the court refused to issue notices to the accused at this stage. It observed that the charge sheet filed by the ED lacked proper supporting documents and directed the agency to submit the required materials. The court stated that it would consider the issuance of notices only after examining the documents.

The court adjourned the matter to 2 May for further hearing.

Earlier, during the proceedings, the ED argued that under the new procedural rules, a charge sheet could not be considered without first summoning the accused, and hence notices needed to be issued. The agency claimed that it was not concealing any facts and was merely seeking to provide the accused an opportunity to present their views before the trial commenced.

Special Judge Vishal Gogne stated that before issuing notices or passing any orders, the court must examine whether there were any deficiencies in the charge sheet. Finding that the necessary documents were missing, the judge instructed the ED to file the appropriate records first. Only then would a decision on issuing notices be made, he said.

In the charge sheet filed in the National Herald case, the ED has named several senior Congress leaders, including Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi.

Earlier, the ED had issued notices for the attachment of properties linked to this case. Recently, it filed a prosecution complaint before the Rouse Avenue Court in Delhi against Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi, senior Congress leader Sam Pitroda, and Suman Dubey, among others. The court has taken up the matter for consideration.