In a dramatic escalation of the National Herald case, the Delhi Police Economic Offences Wing (EOW) has registered a fresh FIR against Rahul Gandhi and Sonia Gandhi, intensifying the legal troubles of India’s top Congress leaders. The FIR alleges criminal conspiracy, fraud, and property misappropriation, adding another layer to a decade-long legal battle already involving the CBI and the Enforcement Directorate (ED).

This latest action marks a serious development — Rahul Gandhi and Sonia Gandhi, already on bail in earlier proceedings, may now face renewed summons, interrogation, and the possibility of arrest.

How the National Herald Case Turned into a Criminal Conspiracy Probe

The controversy dates back to 2012, when BJP leader Subramanian Swamy alleged that the Gandhi family engineered a corporate takeover of Associated Journals Ltd. (AJL) — the publisher of National Herald, Navjeevan, and Qaumi Awaz — by using a shell company to seize assets valued at ₹5,000 crore for just ₹1 lakh.

Multiple courts including the Patiala House Court and Delhi High Court observed that a criminal offense appeared to have been committed. As a result, Rahul Gandhi and Sonia Gandhi were granted bail, preventing immediate arrest.

Since then, investigative agencies have moved in sequence:

• CBI probe → ED money laundering investigation → EOW criminal case

The ED Chargesheet and Why Delhi Police Entered the Scene

The Enforcement Directorate, investigating money laundering linked to AJL and Young Indian, submitted its charge sheet in court, claiming a complex financial network was used to control public assets.

Under legal procedure, once an ED charge sheet highlights potential criminal violations, the local police must file an FIR based on those findings.
This is why the Delhi Police’s Economic Offences Wing has now stepped in.

The fresh FIR goes beyond money laundering, targeting:

• Fraud
• Misrepresentation
• Forgery
• Criminal conspiracy
• Unlawful conversion of public property into private ownership

This makes the case far more dangerous for the accused because criminal conspiracy carries harsher penalties than financial regulatory violations alone.

Who Are Named in the FIR? Full List of Accused

According to the FIR, Sonia Gandhi is named Accused No. 1, allegedly because she was the Congress President at the time of the transactions.

Rahul Gandhi is Accused No. 2 as he is a stakeholder in Young Indian Pvt. Ltd.
Together, mother and son hold 76% of Young Indian, making them the primary beneficiaries.

Other accused include:

• Suman Dubey
• Sam Pitroda
• Young Indian Pvt. Ltd.
• Sunil Bhandari (Director, Detox Merchandise Pvt. Ltd.)

The FIR also mentions three companies allegedly used to channel funds through Kolkata-based shell entities — a classic structure for hawala and benami transactions.

The Shell Company Trail: Detox Merchandise Pvt. Ltd.

Investigators found that Detox Merchandise Pvt. Ltd., claimed to be the lender to Young Indian, is a paper company with no physical office.
The police reportedly discovered:

• A nameplate
• No staff
• No operational premises
• A guest house at the listed address

This matches the classic template of shell companies used for laundering political funds, similar to those linked to others under investigation.

How the Alleged ₹90 Crore Debt Became a Backdoor Acquisition

The core allegation:
Congress “loaned” ₹90 crore to AJL. When AJL failed to repay, Young Indian acquired the debt and took over the company by paying only ₹50 lakh.

Result:

• AJL’s real estate portfolio worth ₹2,000–₹5,000 crore shifted to a newly formed private entity.
• Young Indian became the de facto owner of National Herald properties, despite having no legitimate business operations.

This is why critics call it the “₹5000 crore property for ₹1 lakh scam.”

The Case Now Moves Beyond ED: Criminal Conspiracy and Fraud

While the ED investigates money laundering, the Delhi Police FIR targets the core criminal act:

• How was public property converted into private ownership?
• Was the transaction pre-planned?
• Was Young Indian created solely to acquire AJL assets?

These questions form the backbone of the new FIR — and they are legally more dangerous.

Legal Consequences Ahead: Summons, Interrogations, Possible Arrest

With the FIR filed:

• Rahul Gandhi and Sonia Gandhi are expected to be summoned
• Both may need fresh bail applications
• Arrest cannot be ruled out under serious IPC sections

Congress has already responded, calling the move political vendetta, but the criminal charges — unlike political narrative — will be tested against hard financial evidence in court.

Why This Is a Major Setback for Rahul Gandhi

The National Herald case is no longer only a matter of tax evasion or party funding.
It is now a corporate fraud + criminal conspiracy + money laundering + property misappropriation case.

If proven in court, the consequences could be severe:

• Conviction
• Political disqualification
• Complete freeze on Young Indian’s assets
• Civil and criminal penalties on Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi

This could become the biggest corruption scandal involving a national political dynasty in recent decades.