Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], April 19 (ANI): Union Minister Piyush Goyal launched a scathing attack on the Congress party and its leadership on Saturday, alleging a massive Rs 5,000 crore financial scam involving the Gandhi family in the National Herald case. Calling it an “open and shut scandal,” Goyal accused the family of orchestrating a plot to hijack public assets meant for journalistic use.
“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,” said Goyal during a press briefing in Mumbai.
He emphasized that these properties—originally allotted by central and state governments to the National Herald newspaper—were meant to uphold press freedom and serve the public interest, not be diverted for personal enrichment.
Goyal explained that the National Herald, a Congress-promoted publication, was granted prime properties across the country but ceased operations decades ago. He alleged that the Gandhi family then “hatched a plot” involving a questionable financial transaction.
“The Congress gave Rs 90 crore to Associated Journals Ltd (AJL), the company behind National Herald, as a loan. That money came from political donations, and diverting it is itself a violation,” Goyal stated.
The controversy deepened, he said, when Young Indian, a newly formed company in which Sonia and Rahul Gandhi allegedly hold 76% ownership, acquired control of AJL by paying just Rs 50 lakh.
“This is not just irregular—it’s unbelievable. A company owning properties worth thousands of crores was taken over for a pittance,” Goyal said, calling the move “a betrayal of public trust.”
He further condemned the Congress for facilitating the alleged transfer and misuse of resources meant for journalistic institutions, adding that such actions are tantamount to “loot of national property.”
Goyal also confirmed that a chargesheet has been filed in connection with the case. The Enforcement Directorate (ED) lodged a prosecution complaint on April 15 under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002, naming Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi, and other Congress leaders including Sam Pitroda and Suman Dubey.
The chargesheet, stemming from a complaint filed by BJP leader Subramanian Swamy, accuses the Congress leadership and associated firms of money laundering and financial misconduct.
“This case is now before the court. It is time those responsible are held accountable,” Goyal concluded. (ANI)
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