Watch: Indian Youth Congress members block train in Patna over ED chargesheet against Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi in National Herald case

NEW DELHI: Members of the Indian Youth Congress on Friday blocked a railway track and halted a train in Patna during a protest against the Enforcement Directorate’s recent chargesheet naming Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi in the National Herald money laundering case.

The protest came days after the Enforcement Directorate filed a prosecution complaint (chargesheet) on April 9, paving the way for framing of criminal charges against the former Congress president and the leader of the opposition in Lok Sabha. The chargesheet pegs the alleged proceeds of crime in the case at Rs 5,000 crore.
Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi have been named as accused number one and two, respectively. A special MP/MLA court in Delhi has fixed April 25 to decide on cognisance of the chargesheet. The ED action marks a major turn in the case that has dogged the Congress leadership for over a decade.
The Gandhis, both currently out on bail, had earlier moved court to quash the ED proceedings but were unsuccessful.
ED sources said five individuals and two companies have been named in the chargesheet, including Young Indian — a company in which Sonia and Rahul hold a controlling stake. Other accused include Congress’s overseas head Sam Pitroda and senior party functionary Suman Dubey.
The agency has reportedly submitted documentary evidence to establish the money trail and financial transactions. Statements by Sonia, Rahul, and former Congress treasurers Motilal Vora and Oscar Fernandes — who were all questioned over the years — are said to be part of the chargesheet.
On Saturday, the ED said it had initiated proceedings to take possession of Rs 750 crore worth of attached properties of Associated Journals Limited (AJL), including land and buildings located in Mumbai, Delhi and Lucknow.