The Enforcement Directorate (ED) told a Delhi court on Wednesday that Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi, both of whom are accused in the National Herald case, have benefited with Rs 142 crore in proceeds of the crime, media reports said.
In the money laundering case related to the National Herald, Additional Solicitor General SV Raju, who spoke for the ED, said the accused were “enjoying the proceeds of crime” until the agency took control of properties worth Rs 751.9 crore linked to the case in November 2023.
Zoheb Hossain, the ED’s special counsel, said that proceeds of crime include not just the assets gained from the main offence, but also anything earned through other criminal acts connected to those proceeds.
Hossain also added that “the cognizance of the predicate offence has already taken place.” He further said that Sonia and Rahul Gandhi together owned 76% of Young Indian.
Hossain explained that by paying Rs 50 lakh to Associated Journals Limited (AJL), Young Indian gained control over assets worth Rs 90.25 crore, media reports said.
The ED also told the court that there is enough initial evidence to support a case of money laundering against the Gandhis, Sam Pitroda, Suman Dubey, and others involved in the National Herald case.
The ED added that the Gandhis were involved in money laundering not only when they received the crime proceeds, but also when they continued to hold the proceeds.
Meanwhile, the judge asked the ED to give a copy of its report to the complainant, Subramanian Swamy, the report sad. The agency recently filed its chargesheet after starting the investigation in 2021.