New Delhi, April 15: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has filed a chargesheet against senior Congress leaders Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi, and several others in connection with the National Herald money laundering case involving alleged financial irregularities amounting to ₹988 crore. As per agency report, the chargesheet was submitted before Special Judge Vishal Gogne on April 9, and the court has scheduled the next hearing for April 25 to examine key aspects of the case.

The chargesheet also names Congress leaders Sam Pitroda and Suman Dubey as accused, along with entities such as Young Indian, Dotex Merchandise Pvt Ltd, and Sunil Bhandari. The ED's Special Public Prosecutor N.K. Matta submitted the charges under sections 3 and 4 of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), which pertain to money laundering and associated penalties.

The special court, designated for hearing cases involving MPs and MLAs, noted that the predicate offence—being separately investigated by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI)—is linked to the same set of allegations. The ED informed the court that it intends to move an application to the District Judge for transferring the CBI-related case to Judge Gogne's court to consolidate the trial.

The ED has argued that the same court must hear both the predicate offence and the money laundering charges arising from it. The court echoed this view and observed that since Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi are members of Parliament, a unified judicial process is essential.

Judge Gogne directed the court staff to ensure that all documents are properly paginated and instructed the ED to submit a readable soft copy of the case file by the next hearing. The case file related to the predicate offence will also be called for review.

The ED recently stated that it has issued notices to take possession of immovable properties worth ₹661 crore allegedly linked to money laundering in the National Herald case. The properties are reportedly tied to Associated Journals Ltd. (AJL), the publisher of the National Herald, which is owned by Young Indian Pvt. Ltd.

According to the ED, the investigation began in 2021 following a 2014 complaint by BJP leader Subramanian Swamy in Delhi's Patiala House Court. The complaint accused Sonia and Rahul Gandhi, along with other prominent Congress leaders and associates, of criminal conspiracy and financial misappropriation involving assets worth over ₹2,000 crore.

The agency alleges that Young Indian, in which Sonia and Rahul Gandhi each hold 38 percent of shares, acquired control of AJL's assets for just ₹50 lakh. These assets, according to the ED, include properties across several cities and are valued far beyond the acquisition cost.

The ED also claims that Young Indian and AJL were used to generate proceeds of crime through fake donations worth ₹18 crore, fictitious advance rentals of ₹38 crore, and bogus advertisements amounting to ₹29 crore.

Both Sonia and Rahul Gandhi have previously been questioned for several hours by the ED in connection with this case. The agency asserts that despite various legal challenges to the investigation, both the Delhi High Court and the Supreme Court have upheld the proceedings, allowing the probe to continue.

The case has reignited political controversy, with implications for the Congress leadership ahead of national elections. The court will further evaluate the matter on April 25, when the ED is expected to present the full case diary and supporting documentation.

New Delhi, June 10 (HS): Congress Parliamentary Party President Sonia Gandhi on Monday met Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in New Delhi. During this, former Congress President and MP Rahul Gandhi and Congress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra were also present with her. This information was given by the Congress on the official social media platform X.

Sheikh Hasina reached Delhi on Saturday to attend the swearing-in ceremony of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. After this, she participated in the swearing-in program on Sunday. Top leaders of India's neighboring countries and the Indian Ocean region, including Maldives President Mohammad Muizzu, Nepal Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal 'Prachanda' and Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe, participated in this program.

Raebareli, 17 May (HS): Sonia Gandhi, the Congress leader, announced in Raebareli that she was handing over her son to the people on Friday.

During an election rally in Raebareli with Congress leaders Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and Rahul Gandhi, she remarked, "My lap has been filled with your love and blessings throughout my life. Your affection never left me feeling alone. You have given everything to me. I am delivering my son to you. Consider Rahul your own, just like you did me. Rahul will not fail you.

New Delhi, Sep 20 (IANS) Congress Parliamentary Party (CPP) chairperson Sonia Gandhi on Wednesday said the Women's Reservation Bill was her husband and former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi's dream, which could come true now, but it needed to be implemented soon with the inclusion of SC, ST and OBC communities.

She also said that the Congress demands that this Bill be enforced immediately, and along with that, arrangements be made for reservations to women from SC, ST and OBC communities by holding a caste census

Speaking in the Lok Sabha during the discussion on the Women's Reservation Bill, Sonia Gandhi said, "On behalf of the Congress party, I stand in support of the 'Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam 2023' (Women's Reservation Bill)."

She said that the Indian woman has patience like the ocean.

"She has worked for everyone's betterment like a river," the Lok Sabha MP from Uttar Pradesh's Rae Bareli said.

Sarojini Naidu, Sucheta Kriplani, Vijay Laxmi Pandit and Rajkumari Amrit Kaur and lakhs of women and many more have brought the dreams of Mahatma Gandhi, Jawaharlal Nehru, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel on the ground.

"The figure of Indira Gandhi is the living example of women empowerment," she said.

She said, "It is a very touching moment of my life. The first time, the Constitutional Amendment determining women's participation in local bodies was brought by my life partner Rajiv Gandhi. However it was not passed in Rajya Sabha due to seven votes."

"Later under the leadership of P.V. Narasimha Rao passed. This is the result of the fact that in the local bodies we have over 15 lakh women politicians.

"The dream of Rajiv Gandhi has been fulfilled only half and with the passage of this Bill his dream will come true," she said.

She also said that Congress supports this Bill (on Women's Reservation).

"We are happy with the passage of this Bill but at the same time, we are concerned too. I want to ask a question. Indian women have been waiting for their political responsibility for the past 13 years. And now they are being asked to wait for some more years. How many years? Two years, four years, six years or eight years? Is such kind of treatment with Indian women justified," she asked.

"The Congress demands that this Bill be enforced immediately, and along with that, arrangements be made for reservations to women from SC, ST and OBC communities by holding a caste census," she added.

On Tuesday, when enquired about the Bill, she had retorted that "it is ours, apna hai'".

The Constitution (One Hundred and Twenty Eighth Amendment) Bill, 2023, was introduced in Lok Sabha on Tuesday in the supplementary list of business.

The Women's Reservation Bill has proposed that the reservation would continue for a period of 15 years and there will be a quota for SC and STs within the reserved seats for women. The legislation, however, is unlikely to be implemented in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, sources said.

It will be rolled out only after the delimitation process is over, most probably in 2029, they added.

The reservation will come into effect after a delimitation exercise is undertaken and will continue for 15 years. Seats reserved for women will be rotated after each delimitation exercise, according to the Bill.

The government said women participate substantively in panchayats and at municipal bodies, but their representation in Assemblies and Parliament was still limited.

Women bring different perspectives and enrich the quality of legislative debates and decision-making, it added.

The Congress has dubbed the Bill as a "poll jumla" and also a betrayal with women and girls of the country.

New Delhi, July 26 (IANS) Congress Parliamentary Party (CPP) chairperson Sonia Gandhi on Wednesday met AAP MP Sanjay Singh, who was suspended for the remainder of the Monsoon Session for 'unruly behaviour' in Parliament and told him "you have our full support".

According to party sources, Sonia Gandhi after arriving in Parliament met Singh, who has been sitting in protest in the Parliament campus near the Mahatma Gandhi statue for the last two days.

The source said that during the meeting, Sonia Gandhi told Singh that he has their full support.

Singh was suspended on Monday for the remainder of the Monsoon Session as he entered into the Well of the House and was demanding for a detailed discussion on Manipur violence.

Since Monday, he has been sitting in protest against his suspension in the Parliament premises. Several Opposition MPs of the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA) have been participating in the protest with Singh during the day and night.

The Opposition MPs have been demanding for a detailed discussion on Manipur violence in both the Houses of Parliament and have also been demanding a statement from Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the issue in Parliament.

Raipur, Feb 25 (IANS) In an address to the ongoing 85th Congress plenary session here, senior leader Sonia Gandhi said the party's victories in 2004 and 2009 along with the able leadership of Dr Manmohan Singh "gave me personal satisfaction but what gratifies me most is that my innings could conclude with the Bharat Jodo Yatra".

She said that the yatra has come as a turning point for Congress and proved that the people of India overwhelmingly want harmony, tolerance and equality.

"It (Yatra) has renewed the rich legacy of dialogue between our party and the public through mass contact program. It has shown us that the Congress stands with the people and is ready to fight for them," she said while congratulating party workers for making the mega walkathon a success.

Sonia Gandhi thanked all leaders, and the people of the country for participation in the yatra as well as for their love and the support.

"I especially thank Rahul ji whose determination and leadership was crucial in the Yatra's success."

The senior leader said that this was the particularly challenging time for Congress and the country as the whole.

"Prime minister Narendra Modi, and BJP-RSS regime has relentlessly captured every single institution of the country. It ruthlessly silenced any voice of opposition. It caused economic ruin by favouring a few chosen businessmen at the expense of the people. And most distressingly, it fuelled the fire of fear and hatred against the fellow Indians.

"It targeted minorities and ignited and discrimination against them, women, Dalit and Adivasis. It mocked Gandhi Ji and through it's action and words shows contempt for the values of our Constitution.

"In many ways, the situation today reminds me of time when I first entered into the politics when as now we faced the difficult struggle ahead. And the crucial times teach one of us that there is special responsibility towards our part and the country.

"Congress is not just a party, we are the vehicle through which the people of India fight for liberty, equality, fraternity and the justice for all," she added.

Addressing the session, Sonia Gandhi further said that "we must tackle the regime with boldness and vigor and stand side by side with the people it attacks. We must reach out to people and convey our message with clarity and cohesion".

She asked party leaders to put aside personal expectations and make sacrifices and work with unity.

"Today let us remind ourselves of the battle our part has won in the past and prepare ourselves for the battle to come. Let us remember that the victory for the party is victory for the country and for each one of us."