The court also refused that Ms Gandhi and others are entitled to an FIR copy of the case
Staff Reporter /
A Delhi court today refused to take cognisance of the Enforcement Directorate’s money laundering case against Congress Parliamentary Party Chairperson Sonia Gandhi, Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi, and others in the National Herald case.
Special Judge Vishal Gogne noted the chargesheet filed in the case is based on an investigation into a complaint by a private person and not on an FIR of a predicate offence. Its cognisance is impermissible in law, the judge said.
However, the court said the central agency may continue its investigation. Meanwhile, the ED said it will file an appeal against the court order.
Special Judge Vishal Gogne of the Rouse Avenue Court said that the complaint filed by the ED under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) was not maintainable at this stage.
Besides Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi, the ED had named Congress Overseas Chief Sam Pitroda, Suman Dubey, Sunil Bhandari, Young Indian, and Dotex Merchandise Private Limited as proposed accused in the case.
The case involves allegations that senior Congress leaders conspired to illegally take control of assets worth over 2,000 crore rupees belonging to Associated Journals Ltd (AJL), publisher of the National Herald, by paying 50 lakh rupees through Young Indian, a company majority-owned by Sonia and Rahul Gandhi.