NEW DELHI, Dec 16— A Delhi court on Tuesday rejected the Enforcement Directorate’s money laundering complaint against Congress leaders Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi, ruling that it could not be entertained as it was not based on a First Information Report.
Special Judge Vishal Gogne said the ED’s prosecution stemmed from a private complaint filed by BJP leader Subramanian Swamy, not a FIR for a scheduled offence under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act. “Taking cognisance of the ED’s complaint without an FIR would be impermissible,” the court said.
The court dismissed the ED’s complaint against the Gandhis, Suman Dubey, Sam Pitroda, and the company Young Indian, as well as Dotex Merchandise and Sunil Bhandari. It noted that Sections 3 and 4 of the PMLA require a statutory foundation that was missing in this case. The judge observed that the Delhi Police’s Economic Offences Wing has since registered an FIR, leaving the agency free to place further submissions on record.
The ED had alleged laundering of proceeds of crime from the alleged fraudulent takeover of Associated Journals Limited, valuing the assets at more than ₹2,000 crore. According to the agency, AJL’s shares were transferred to Young Indian as part of a criminal conspiracy to unlawfully acquire assets.
The Gandhis denied the allegations, maintaining that the acquisition aimed to make AJL debt-free through a loan arrangement. “The case alleged money laundering without any use or enjoyment of property,” their lawyers argued.
Congress spokesperson Supriya Shrinate said the court’s ruling exposed “the politically motivated prosecution by the Modi government over the last decade.” She added, “There is no case of money laundering, no proceeds of crime, and no movement of property…These baseless charges…stand defeated today.”
Shrinate reiterated the party’s determination to fight for truth and citizens’ rights. “We cannot, and will not, ever be intimidated because we fight for the truth. Satyamev Jayate,” she said.
