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| National Herald: India's Gandhis charged in money laundering case amid opposition outcry | National Herald: India's Gandhis charged in money laundering case amid opposition outcry |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| Sonia and Rahul Gandhi have been accused of laundering millions of dollars - charges they have strongly denied | Sonia and Rahul Gandhi have been accused of laundering millions of dollars - charges they have strongly denied |
| India's opposition Congress party has said it will organise nationwide protests on Wednesday after the country's financial crimes agency charged senior leaders Sonia and Rahul Gandhi and others with money laundering. | India's opposition Congress party has said it will organise nationwide protests on Wednesday after the country's financial crimes agency charged senior leaders Sonia and Rahul Gandhi and others with money laundering. |
| The Enforcement Directorate (ED) presented its findings in a Delhi court on Tuesday, accusing the Gandhis of forming a shell company to illegally acquire assets of the National Herald newspaper worth more than 20bn rupees ($233mn; £176mn). | The Enforcement Directorate (ED) presented its findings in a Delhi court on Tuesday, accusing the Gandhis of forming a shell company to illegally acquire assets of the National Herald newspaper worth more than 20bn rupees ($233mn; £176mn). |
| Congress spokesperson Jairam Ramesh called the charges "politics of vendetta and intimidation" by the government. | Congress spokesperson Jairam Ramesh called the charges "politics of vendetta and intimidation" by the government. |
| The Gandhis who have previously denied any wrongdoing have not commented on the charges. | The Gandhis who have previously denied any wrongdoing have not commented on the charges. |
| National Herald was relaunched in 2017 as a digital news outlet | National Herald was relaunched in 2017 as a digital news outlet |
| The investigation also names other members of the Congress party, including its overseas chief Sam Pitroda, according to news agency ANI. | The investigation also names other members of the Congress party, including its overseas chief Sam Pitroda, according to news agency ANI. |
| The Enforcement Directorate (ED) began investigating the case in 2021 after a private complaint filed by Subramanian Swamy, a member of the governing Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). | The Enforcement Directorate (ED) began investigating the case in 2021 after a private complaint filed by Subramanian Swamy, a member of the governing Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). |
| Swamy alleged that the Gandhis used party funds to take over Associated Journals Limited (AJL), which published the now-defunct National Herald newspaper, and illegally acquired properties worth millions through AJL. | Swamy alleged that the Gandhis used party funds to take over Associated Journals Limited (AJL), which published the now-defunct National Herald newspaper, and illegally acquired properties worth millions through AJL. |
| The Congress maintains that it bailed out the publisher due to its historical legacy and had lent more than 900m rupees to AJL over the years. | The Congress maintains that it bailed out the publisher due to its historical legacy and had lent more than 900m rupees to AJL over the years. |
| In 2010, AJL became debt-free by swapping its debt for equity and assigning the shares to a newly created company called Young Indian, which the party says is a "not-for-profit company" with no dividends paid to its shareholders and directors. | In 2010, AJL became debt-free by swapping its debt for equity and assigning the shares to a newly created company called Young Indian, which the party says is a "not-for-profit company" with no dividends paid to its shareholders and directors. |
| Sonia and Rahul Gandhi are among Young Indian's directors and they each own 38% of the company. The remaining 24% is owned by Congress leaders, including Motilal Vora and Sam Pitroda. | Sonia and Rahul Gandhi are among Young Indian's directors and they each own 38% of the company. The remaining 24% is owned by Congress leaders, including Motilal Vora and Sam Pitroda. |
| Last week, the Enforcement Directorate said Young Indian had acquired AJL properties worth 20bn rupees for just 5m, significantly undervaluing their worth. | Last week, the Enforcement Directorate said Young Indian had acquired AJL properties worth 20bn rupees for just 5m, significantly undervaluing their worth. |
| It also served several notices to seize assets worth 6.6bn rupees across several Indian cities - including Delhi and Mumbai - which are connected to Young Indian. | It also served several notices to seize assets worth 6.6bn rupees across several Indian cities - including Delhi and Mumbai - which are connected to Young Indian. |
| The case is scheduled to come up for hearing on 25 April. | The case is scheduled to come up for hearing on 25 April. |
| In recent years, the opposition has repeatedly accused the Narendra Modi government of weaponising the Enforcement Directorate against its political opponents. | |
| According to data compiled by Reuters in 2024, the agency has summoned, questioned or raided around 150 opposition politicians since Modi came to power in 2014. | |
| Last year, the ED arrested former Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal in connection with an alleged liquor scam just a month before key general elections. He spent five months in jail before being freed on bail. | |
| Jawaharlal Nehru started the National Herald in 1938 | Jawaharlal Nehru started the National Herald in 1938 |
| What is the National Herald? | What is the National Herald? |
| The National Herald newspaper was founded in 1938 by Jawaharlal Nehru, India's first prime minister and Rahul Gandhi's great-grandfather. | The National Herald newspaper was founded in 1938 by Jawaharlal Nehru, India's first prime minister and Rahul Gandhi's great-grandfather. |
| It ceased publication in 2008 after running into financial troubles but was later acquired by the Congress in 2010 and relaunched as a digital news outlet in 2017. | It ceased publication in 2008 after running into financial troubles but was later acquired by the Congress in 2010 and relaunched as a digital news outlet in 2017. |
| It was published by Associated Journals Limited (AJL), which was established in 1937 with 5,000 freedom fighters as shareholders. AJL also published Qaumi Awaz in Urdu and Navjeevan in Hindi. | It was published by Associated Journals Limited (AJL), which was established in 1937 with 5,000 freedom fighters as shareholders. AJL also published Qaumi Awaz in Urdu and Navjeevan in Hindi. |
| The National Herald became known for its association with India's freedom struggle and its nationalist stance. | The National Herald became known for its association with India's freedom struggle and its nationalist stance. |
| Nehru often wrote strong-worded columns, which led to the British government banning the paper in 1942. It reopened three years later. | Nehru often wrote strong-worded columns, which led to the British government banning the paper in 1942. It reopened three years later. |
| After India gained independence in 1947, Nehru resigned as chairman of the newspaper to become prime minister. | After India gained independence in 1947, Nehru resigned as chairman of the newspaper to become prime minister. |
| But the Congress continued to play a huge role in shaping the newspaper's ideology. | But the Congress continued to play a huge role in shaping the newspaper's ideology. |
| In a message to the National Herald on its silver jubilee in 1963, Nehru spoke about the paper "generally favouring Congress policy" while maintaining "an independent outlook". | In a message to the National Herald on its silver jubilee in 1963, Nehru spoke about the paper "generally favouring Congress policy" while maintaining "an independent outlook". |
| Over the years, the National Herald grew to be a leading English daily, supported by the Congress party, until it shut down in 2008 after years of financial troubles. | Over the years, the National Herald grew to be a leading English daily, supported by the Congress party, until it shut down in 2008 after years of financial troubles. |
| Follow BBC News India on Instagram, YouTube, Twitter and Facebook. | Follow BBC News India on Instagram, YouTube, Twitter and Facebook. |