The Delhi High Court has postponed the hearing on the Enforcement Directorate’s challenge against a trial court order in the National Herald money laundering case involving Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi. Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma deferred the proceedings to March 9, citing the need for a detailed hearing. The ED contested a court order from December 16, 2025, which dismissed its complaint under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act.
The federal anti-money laundering agency criticized the trial court’s decision not to acknowledge the alleged offenses in the case. The Delhi High Court had previously issued notices to the respondents, including the Gandhis, for their responses. Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, representing the ED, argued that the trial court misinterpreted the law regarding prosecution complaints under the PMLA.
The ED emphasized that the court’s acceptance of a private complaint holds more weight than an FIR by the police. It argued that criminal proceedings can be initiated through police investigation or a private complaint, and the Special Judge’s rejection of the prosecution complaint was unjustified. The case involves accusations that Congress leaders illicitly gained control of assets worth over Rs 2,000 crore from Associated Journals Ltd through Young Indian, a company where Sonia and Rahul Gandhi are major shareholders.
