Delhi High Court refuses to block AJL's bid to free seized National Herald assets

On Monday, a Delhi High Court bench headed by Justice Sachin Datta refused to impose a status-quo order on Associated Journals Limited, the Gandhi family-controlled firm, allowing it to continue seeking the release of properties seized in the National Herald investigation, including Herald House at ITO. The Enforcement Directorate, represented by additional solicitor general SV Raju, had asked the court to stop AJL’s move before the PMLA Appellate Tribunal, citing a December 16 trial-court decision that permitted AJL to rely on the agency’s charge sheet.

The trial court had held that a PMLA prosecution must stem from a complaint lodged by a law-enforcement agency, not a private individual. Senior Congress figures Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi filed an affidavit opposing the ED’s petition, arguing that the PMLA does not recognise private complaints as a basis for investigation. The case also names former officials Pitroda and journalist Dubey, along with Young Indian and Dotex Merchandise, alleged shell entities in the alleged money-laundering scheme. The hearing was adjourned to November 2.