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The fresh FIR, filed by Delhi Police’s Economic Offences Wing, comes as Parliament’s Winter Session opened amid chaos.
Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Sonia Gandhi
The new First Information Report filed against Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi and senior Congress leaders in the National Herald case has triggered a fierce political confrontation at the start of the Parliament’s Winter Session.
The BJP has mounted a sharp attack on the Congress, calling the controversy “a scandal that refuses to die”, while the Opposition has accused the government of pursuing a political vendetta through investigative agencies.
BJP calls it “real-estate empire scam”
The BJP’s official post on X accused the Gandhi family of orchestrating a “massive fraud” involving the Associated Journals Limited (AJL) and Young Indian. The party reiterated its longstanding allegation that a Rs 90.21-crore loan from the AICC was used to facilitate Young Indian’s takeover of 99% of AJL’s shares, granting access to properties worth over Rs 2,000 crore across several cities.
The post stated, “Who steals from freedom fighters? Congress. The Gandhi family.”
???? ???????????????????????????? ???????????????? ???????????????????????????? ???????? ???????????? — ???????????? ????????????, ????????’???? ???????????????????????????? ???????????????????????????????? ????????!The National Herald case has erupted once again, with a fresh FIR against Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi, and top Congress figures on charges of criminal conspiracy,… pic.twitter.com/oZSFXeLpiA— BJP (@BJP4India) November 30, 2025
BJP National General Secretary Tarun Chugh intensified the attack, alleging that “freedom fighters’ money was openly looted” and that the Congress was staging a “political drama” to deflect from serious charges. He added that the Supreme Court had recognised the case as involving “fraud and forgery”, insisting the Gandhis must face trial.
“Congress under the leadership of Rahul Gandhi and Sonia Gandhi is in a state of panic, frustration and outcry over National Herald. This is unfortunate,” added Chugh.
Congress says “national harassment, not National Herald”
The Congress responded with strong words, accusing the BJP and the Enforcement Directorate (ED) of manufacturing a case for political purposes. Senior Congress leader and Supreme Court advocate Abhishek Singhvi dismissed the charges as “fiction wearing a uniform”, adding that the BJP had an “obsession” with targeting the Gandhis.
“There is no crime, no cash, no trail… the BJP conjures a case out of its own twisted mind,” Singhvi said, describing the episode as the “National Harassment case”.
Congress allies echoed similar sentiments. Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Priyanka Chaturvedi termed the FIR a “political witch-hunt”, calling it routine behaviour by agencies “bending backwards to please political masters”.
Case returns to fore as Parliament begins in turmoil
The fresh FIR, filed by Delhi Police’s Economic Offences Wing, comes as Parliament’s Winter Session opened amid chaos. As the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha experienced immediate disruption, the National Herald case became an extension of the day’s political sparring between the BJP and the Congress.
The BJP circulated a video outlining its allegations, emphasising that no court had thus far ruled in favour of the Congress. It highlighted properties originally allocated for newspaper activities that were allegedly used for commercial rent, which the ED claims amount to proceeds of crime worth nearly Rs 1,000 crore.
Founded in 1938 by Jawaharlal Nehru, the National Herald was once a prominent voice of the freedom movement. AJL closed its newspaper operations in 2008, though it retained properties now valued around Rs 5,000 crore. The criminal complaint filed in 2012 by BJP leader Subramanian Swamy reignited the political battle, shaping a decade-long conflict that continues to dominate national debate.
Shuddhanta Patra, a seasoned journalist with eight years of experience, serves as Senior Sub‑Editor at CNN News 18. With expertise across national politics, geopolitics, business news, she has influenced public…Read More
Shuddhanta Patra, a seasoned journalist with eight years of experience, serves as Senior Sub‑Editor at CNN News 18. With expertise across national politics, geopolitics, business news, she has influenced public… Read More
Delhi, India, India
December 01, 2025, 14:21 IST
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