Chargesheet in National Herald case against Gandhi family a 'pure political witch-hunt': Amitabh Dubey
Terming the chargesheet field by the Enforcement Directorate against Congress Parliamentary Party Chairperson Sonia Gandhi and Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi in the National Herald Case as 'pure political witch-hunt' by the Bharatiya Janata Party(BJP), Amitabh Dubey, in-charge of Research and Monitoring, Communications Department, Indian National Congress, said in Coimbatore on Monday that the BJP, in a state of 'scare', had resorted to the act to divert public attention from crucial issues facing the nation.
'Fabricated cases' against the Gandhi family was nothing short of 'grotesque abuse of state machinery'. Charges of money-laundering has been made in a case where not a single penny or asset had been transferred.
Originally founded as a public limited newspaper company, the objective of the Associated Journals Limited (AJL) was to be the mouthpiece of freedom struggle and not to make profits. The immovable properties held by AJL in Delhi, Panchkula, Mumbai, Patna and Indore were leased and allotted to publish newspapers, and can't be sold. The only freehold property was in Lucknow. Hence, the allegation that AJL holds real estate of the value of thousands of crores of rupees was baseless, Mr. Dubey told mediapersons.
As the AJL had incurred losses and accumulated debts resulting in suspension of its operations, the Congress party had stepped in between 2002 and 2011 by extending loans in 100 small tranches totalling ₹90 crore, for payment of salaries, provident fund, retirement benefits, gratuity, and pending electricity bills.
After obtaining legal advice, Young Indian was formed as a charitable not-for-profit company, with four shareholders, all senior-most office-bearers: Ms. Sonia Gandhi (the then president of AICC), late Motilal Vora (then treasurer), late Oscar Fernandes (then general secretary of AICC), and Mr. Rahul Gandhi (then general secretary).
Since AJL was in distress, the ₹90 crore loan was converted to equity through Young Indian. The entire Bankruptcy Code is based on this principle and is a well-established global practice, Mr. Dubey said, citing the instances of purchase of Ruchi Soya's debt by Baba Ramdev's Patanjali, and the Modi Government's waiver of ₹36,000 crore owed by Vodafone by taking over ownership by increasing the government's holding to 49.99 % from 22.6%.
No director or shareholder of Young Indian has gained financially. 'No salary, dividend, or profit can be accrued, even if Young Indian were to shut down,', Mr. Dubey said, adding: 'There was not a single rupee that either Ms. Sonia Gandhi or Mr. Rahul Gandhi or any other Director of Young Indian Ltd. Got.'
During August 2015, the ED had closed the file on record. In 2023, the ED issued a provisional attachment order, which was confirmed by a tribunal on April 10, 2024. On the 365th and final day - April 9, 2025 - the ED filed a chargesheet, but the contents are not yet public.
The delay shows the case was on a 'very frivolous footing' and also reeks of the moral-political bankruptcy of the Modi Government, Mr. Dubey pointed out.
A new false controversy is being created by the BJP about government advertisements in the National Herald newspaper. 'The Congress party will pursue the matter in courts, but we refuse to be intimidated by the Modi Government,' Mr. Dubey said.
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