The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Tuesday filed a prosecution complaint against Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Sonia Gandhi in the National Herald money laundering case. .According to sources, Congress' Sam Pitroda and several others have also been named in the complaint. .Special Judge (PC Act) Vishal Gogne of the Rouse Avenue Courts considered the case today and said it will be heard next on April 25 for consideration on aspect of cognisance. "A fresh prosecution complaint under sections 44 and 45 of Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) 2002 for commission of offence of money laundering as defined under section 3 read with section 70 and punishable under section 4 of PMLA, 2002 filed by the ED, has been received by way of assignment. Let the complaint be checked and registered," the Court said. .The National Herald case pertains to the assignment of a ₹90 crore loan advanced by the Congress party to Associated Journals Ltd (AJL) – owner of the National Herald – to Young Indian for a consideration of ₹50 lakh.It has been alleged that there was misappropriation of assets of over ₹2,000 crore in an equity transaction.In his private complaint, BJP leader Subramanian Swamy had accused Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi, Motilal Vora, Oscar Fernandes, Suman Dubey, Sam Pitroda and Gandhi family-controlled Young Indian of cheating, criminal conspiracy, criminal breach of trust and misappropriation of property..The trial in the predicate criminal case is ongoing at the Rouse Avenue Court but before the Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate. Judge Gogne noted that under Section 44(1)(c) of the PMLA, the predicate offense must be tried in the same court that has taken cognisance of the money laundering offence under Section 3 of the PMLA. He further said that both offences must be adjudicated in the same jurisdiction. Meanwhile, the ED counsel said that he will move an application for transfer of the case before the Principal District & Sessions Judge. The matter will be heard next on April 25. .[Read Order]
