ED Alleges Sonia, Rahul Acquired AJL for ₹50 Lakh Despite ₹2,000 Crore Asset Value
New Delhi : The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Wednesday informed a Delhi court that Congress leaders Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi allegedly acquired complete ownership of Associated Journals Limited (AJL) — the publisher of the National Herald newspaper — by paying only ₹50 lakh, despite AJL holding real estate assets valued at over ₹2,000 crore.
According to the ED, the transaction enabled the Gandhis to take over AJL through Young Indian, a company in which they are majority shareholders. The agency further claimed that advertisement revenue meant for AJL was routed under the instructions of senior Congress leaders, raising serious questions about financial irregularities and misuse of political influence.
The case, which stems from a money laundering probe linked to the National Herald affair, continues to stir political controversy, with the Congress party denying all allegations and terming them as politically motivated.
Further hearings in the matter are scheduled, with the ED likely to submit additional documents to substantiate its claims.
