On Friday, April 25, 2025, a Delhi court declined to send notice to Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi, Sonia Gandhi, and others involved in the National Herald money laundering case for the time being.
In response to a motion from the Enforcement Directorate (ED), special judge Vishal Gogne held that, in accordance with the new legal requirements, cognisance of the complaint—which is the ED’s equivalent of a chargesheet—cannot be taken without first hearing the accused. “Don’t want this order to be prolonged. Let notice be issued,” ED told the court.
However, the judge stated that the court could not “pass such an order” until it was convinced that notice was necessary. The judge stated that the court must determine whether there is a defect before issuing any orders. “There are certain documents missing in the chargesheet as highlighted by the Ahmad. ED is directed to file those documents. After that the court will decide the issue of notice,” the court said.
It was described as “very transparent” by the ED. “Not hiding anything. Giving chance to them to come and give their point before cognisance is taken,” the ED told the court. On May 2, the judge posted the case.
