Sudhir Kumar
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has moved Delhi High Court, challenging trial court order that declined to take cognisance of money laundering complaint against Congress leaders Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi, and others in National Herald case. In its petition, ED has questioned the findings of the trial court and sought appellate review of the decision refusing to proceed with the agency’s complaint under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). A Delhi Court on Tuesday refused to take cognisance of the ED’s money laundering case against Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi, and five others in the National Herald case.
The court, however, said the central agency could continue its probe in the matter. Special Judge Vishal Gogne of the Rouse Avenue Courts set aside an order passed by a Magistrate court in this regard. The ED, in its chargesheet, had named Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi, Suman Dubey, Sam Pitroda, Young Indian, Dotex Merchandise and Sunil Bhandari as the main accused in the case. It has been alleged that assets worth over 2,000 crore rupees belonging to Associated Journals Limited (AJL) were wrongfully taken over.