New Delhi, India , December 16, 2025 :
In a significant development in the National Herald money laundering case, a Delhi court on Tuesday granted major relief to Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Sonia Gandhi by refusing to take cognizance of the chargesheet filed by the Enforcement Directorate (ED). The decision comes as a setback to the ED in the high-profile case that has remained politically contentious for years.
While declining to take cognizance of the chargesheet, the court clarified that Rahul Gandhi, Sonia Gandhi, and other accused are not entitled to receive copies of any FIR, as the ED’s case is not based on a police FIR. The court noted that the investigation stems from a private complaint filed by BJP leader Subramanian Swamy and subsequent magisterial summons orders, rather than a conventional first information report.
At the same time, the court allowed the Enforcement Directorate to continue its investigation, stating that the agency is free to conduct further probe and collect additional evidence related to the alleged financial transactions. The judge emphasized that the refusal to take cognizance does not bar the ED from pursuing the matter within the legal framework.
Earlier, the Delhi Police had registered an FIR in the National Herald case, naming Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi, and several others, including Congress leaders Suman Dubey and Sam Pitroda, along with entities such as Young Indian (YI), Dotex Merchandise Pvt Ltd, Sunil Bhandari, and Associated Journals Limited (AJL). All these names also feature in the ED’s chargesheet, which was filed in a Delhi court in April 2025.
The court had previously reserved its order on whether to take cognizance of the ED’s chargesheet and deferred the matter until December 16. The latest ruling is being viewed as a procedural victory for the Gandhi family, even as the investigation into the National Herald case continues.
