Even politicians who contributed ₹20 lakh each to the National Herald are now under the ED’s scanner!
#News Bureau May 23,2025
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has alleged that several senior Congress leaders contributed ₹20 lakh each to Young Indian, the company linked to the National Herald. While these donations were made openly and not in secret, the ED is reportedly treating the funds with suspicion and building a case around them.
ED Charges Sonia and Rahul Gandhi in National Herald Case, Questions Surround Donations
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has filed a chargesheet in the National Herald case, naming former Congress President Sonia Gandhi and Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi as accused. The ED alleges that the case involves money laundering, but the facts presented in court have raised questions about whether transparent donations made through the formal banking system can be classified as such.
According to the ED, several senior Congress leaders were allegedly directed to donate substantial sums to Young Indian Limited—a company closely linked to Sonia and Rahul Gandhi and at the center of the National Herald case. The ED claims that state-level leaders from various parts of the country donated lakhs of rupees to this entity, implying a coordinated strategy.
However, critics argue that all the transactions were carried out openly through official banking channels, raising doubts about the ED’s interpretation. If the funds were black money, why hasn’t the ED provided concrete evidence to support this? And if not, can these lawful donations fall under the ambit of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA)?
Focus on Telangana, Karnataka, and Punjab
A significant portion of the alleged transactions trace back to Telangana. According to the ED, in 2022, four Congress leaders from the state donated over ₹80 lakh to Young Indian, reportedly under the instruction of then-MLA and current Chief Minister Revanth Reddy. This includes:
- ₹20 lakh by Gali Anil Kumar (former Lok Sabha candidate)
- ₹20 lakh by former MLA Ali Shabbir
- ₹15 lakh by P. Sudarshan (then Telangana Congress treasurer)
- ₹25 lakh by Revanth Reddy himself
All these contributions were made within a single month, and all were documented.
Similar patterns were observed in Karnataka and Punjab. In April 2022, Congress leader Pawan Bansal from Chandigarh allegedly advised Karnataka Congress president DK Shivakumar and his brother, MP DK Suresh, to contribute ₹25 lakh each. The same month, the National Education Trust—linked to Shivakumar—donated ₹2 crore.
In Punjab, Congress leader Amit Vij, a former assembly candidate, is reported to have contributed ₹3.3 crore across three instalments in 2015.
The ED suspects these were not voluntary donations but part of an orchestrated attempt to infuse funds into Young Indian. However, legal experts point out that unless the agency can produce direct evidence—such as written statements or testimony from the donors—it remains speculation.
Political and Legal Battle Intensifies
The ED is now examining whether these transactions constitute a violation of the PMLA. While some media outlets have reported this as a confirmed money laundering case, ED sources have indicated they are still evaluating whether these donations meet the legal threshold for prosecution under the Act.
One senior ED official told the press, “The pattern, timing, and coordination of these donations suggest a systematic effort to fund Young Indian using party loyalists and state leaders.” The agency plans to summon several individuals for further questioning and is preparing supplementary evidence for court.
The Congress party, meanwhile, has strongly denied any wrongdoing, calling the case “politically motivated” and asserting that all financial transactions were legitimate.
Charges and Allegations
The chargesheet names Sonia Gandhi as Accused No. 1 and Rahul Gandhi as Accused No. 2, along with five others under the PMLA. According to the ED, Young Indian acquired assets worth ₹2,000 crore from Associated Journals Limited—the publisher of the National Herald—for just ₹50 lakh. The agency contends that this deal constituted embezzlement and unlawful enrichment.
While the case has been under investigation for nearly a decade, critics note that the ED has yet to present irrefutable evidence in court. Both Sonia and Rahul Gandhi have been questioned, but no decisive breakthroughs have emerged so far.
As the case gains renewed attention, it threatens to escalate into a major political flashpoint ahead of national elections.
