BJP supporters in Mumbai called for “bulldozer action” against properties linked to the National Herald case, following the Enforcement Directorate’s (ED) chargesheet against Congress leaders Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi.
BJP leader Vishwabandhu Rai displayed posters outside the Associated Journals Limited (AJL) building in Bandra, urging Maharashtra chief minister Devendra Fadnavis to demolish related properties.
The poster, featuring images of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, CM Fadnavis, and UP chief minister Yogi Adityanath, carried the slogan “Deva Bhau, Bulldozer Chalao.”
On Tuesday, the ED submitted a chargesheet naming Sonia and Rahul Gandhi as accused in the National Herald case. Congress leaders Sam Pitroda and Suman Dubey have also been named in the chargesheet.
The document was filed in April and is under review by Special Judge Vishal Gogne, who will decide whether to take cognisance of the case. The next hearing is scheduled for April 25.
Earlier, the ED initiated proceedings to seize properties worth over Rs 700 crore belonging to Associated Journals Limited, a company linked to both Sonia and Rahul Gandhi. These assets include prime real estate in Delhi, Mumbai, and Lucknow, including the iconic Herald House on Bahadur Shah Zafar Marg in New Delhi.
AJL, the publisher of National Herald, is owned by Young Indian Private Limited, in which Sonia and Rahul Gandhi each hold a 38% stake, making them majority shareholders.
The Enforcement Directorate clarified that these actions are part of its ongoing investigation into the AJL money laundering case. The probe is being conducted under Section 8 of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002, along with relevant provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering (Taking Possession of Attached or Frozen Properties) Rules, 2013.