National Herald case: ED seizes assets worth Rs 752 crore

Delhi: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has taken provisional action by attaching properties valued at ₹751.9 crore in Mumbai, Delhi, and Lucknow in connection with a money-laundering case linked to Associated Journals Ltd (AJL), the publisher of the National Herald newspaper.The Young Indian, associated with the Gandhi family, has been under scrutiny by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) for allegations of acquiring Associated Journals Ltd (AJL), the publisher of the National Herald newspaper, and its assets at a nominal cost, purportedly in exchange for a loan provided by the Congress.

In response to the ED’s declaration, the Congress accused the BJP, asserting that it indicates the BJP’s attempt to shift focus away from their anticipated losses in the current state elections.

A Delhi court concluded that seven accused persons, including Young India, committed offenses like criminal breach of trust, cheating, dishonest misappropriation of property, and criminal conspiracy. It was found that there was a conspiracy to acquire properties worth hundreds of crores of AJL through Young Indian. AJL, which received land at concessional rates for publishing newspapers, closed its operations in 2008 and used the properties for commercial purposes.