Sonia, Rahul charged in high profile money laundering case

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has filed a charge sheet against former Congress President Sonia Gandhi and the leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi -- the first ever charge sheet against both leaders -- in its money laundering investigation into the affairs of the party-run National Herald newspaper, people familiar with the matter said on Tuesday.

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The Hindustan Times report: “The charge sheet, filed before a Delhi court on April 9, mentions Sonia and Rahul Gandhi as accused number 1 and 2, respectively, under sections 3 and 4 (which deal with money laundering and its punishment) and section 70 (offences by companies) of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act or PMLA. The charges attract a maximum imprisonment of seven years if proved.

Besides the Gandhis, Sam Pitroda, the head of the Congress' international arm, and Suman Dubey, a former journalist and close confidant of the Gandhis, who are founding directors of Young Indian Private Limited (YI), a company in which Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi together hold 76% percent stake, and the company itself, have also been named as accused, the people added.

A Kolkata-based private company — Dotex Merchandise Pvt Ltd and its office bearer Sunil Bhandari, too have been named.

The special judge for MP/MLA cases at Rouse Avenue Courts has listed the charge sheet to be taken up for cognizance on April 25, according to the court order seen by HT.

The Congress termed the charge sheet "political vendetta" and "intimidation by the PM (Prime Minister Narendra Modi)" and "the HM (Home Minister Amit Shah)".