Gandhi family caught trying to take away Rs 5,000 crore property: Union Minister Piyush Goyal on National Herald case

Speaking to the media, Union Minister Goyal alleged that the Gandhi family had "hatched a plot" to usurp public property, originally allocated for journalistic purposes under the National Herald newspaper, for personal gain.

"The Gandhi family has been caught trying to take away property currently valued at Rs 5,000 crore, which should rightfully belong to the people of India," Goyal stated.

He emphasised that such assets, given by central and state governments to media institutions, are meant to protect press freedom, not to become tools of private enrichment.

"The Gandhi family has been caught trying to take away property currently valued at Rs 5000 crore, which should rightfully belong to the people of India. When land or other assets are given by any government--central or state to a media house, either free or at a concessional rate to the media, the effort is to promote the freedom of the press and the right of our citizens to know what is happening in the country," he said.

The National Herald, once promoted by the Congress, had been allotted properties across India to serve the media, owever, the publication shut down decades ago, and according to Goyal, its assets became the centre of a conspiracy.

"National Herald was a newspaper promoted by the Congress, and had received several properties all over the country from governments to promote the objective of the media. The newspaper closed down many years ago. The Gandhi family hatched a plot, by which they gave 90 cr rupees as a loan to the Congress party to Associated Journals Limited, which owns National Herald," he alleged.

He explained the alleged scam: "The Congress gave Rs 90 crore to Associated Journals Ltd (AJL), which owned the National Herald. Political donations raised from the public cannot be diverted like this--it was the first irregularity."

Goyal went on to claim that a company named Young Indian was later created, in which Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi hold 76 per cent ownership, acquired by paying only Rs 50 lakh. "This is not just irregular--it's unbelievable and unimaginable," he said.

"I condemn the Gandhi family for considering the nation's property as their own. I also condemn the Congress Party for facilitating this transfer of Rs 5,000 crore worth of property into private hands," Goyal asserted.

He confirmed that a chargesheet has been filed, and the case is currently in court. "This is an open and shut case. Those who have committed this fraud must be brought to book," he said.

On April 15, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) filed a prosecution complaint (chargesheet) against top Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Sonia Gandhi in connection with the money laundering case involving the National Herald.

The chargesheet also names Congress leaders Sam Pitroda, Suman Dubey and others, including several firms.

The prosecution complaint has been filed under Sections 44 and 45 of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002, for the offence of money laundering, as defined under Section 3, read with Section 70, and punishable under Section 4 of the PMLA, 2002.

The complaint was filed by BJP leader Subramanian Swamy against Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi, their associated companies, and other individuals.