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‘Truth has prevailed’: Congress after Sonia, Rahul Gandhi get relief in National Herald case

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New Delhi, Dec 16: Congress said that the BJP-led government has been exposed and that “the truth has prevailed” as a Delhi court on Tuesday refused to take cognisance of the Enforcement Directorate (ED) prosecution complaint in the alleged National Herald money laundering case.

In a major relief to Congress Parliamentary Party Chairperson Sonia Gandhi and Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition (LoP) Rahul Gandhi, Special Judge (PC Act) Vishal Gogne of the Rouse Avenue Court held that the complaint filed by the ED under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) was not maintainable.

Apart from Sonia and Rahul Gandhi, the federal anti-money laundering agency had arrayed Congress Overseas chief Sam Pitroda, Suman Dubey, Sunil Bhandari, Young Indian and Dotex Merchandise Private Limited and as proposed accused in the case.

Taking to X, Congress said, “Truth has prevailed. The malafide and illegality of the Modi govt stands fully exposed. Proceedings of ED against the Congress leadership – Smt Sonia Gandhi Ji and Shri Rahul Gandhi Ji, in the Young Indian case, have been found completely illegal and malafide by the Honourable Court.”

Hitting out at the BJP-led Centre, Congress said, “The court has ruled that the ED case is without jurisdiction, it has no FIR without which there is no case. This politically motivated prosecution by the Modi government over the last decade of the principal opposition party stands exposed before the people of India.”

The party said that there is no case of money laundering, no proceeds of crime and no movement of property, calling the allegations “baseless charges that have been a part of a political witch hunt, propaganda, reputation assassination and campaign which stands defeated today.”

“Congress party and our leadership are committed to fighting for truth and for rights of every Indian — we cannot, and will not ever be intimidated — because we fight for the truth,” it added.

The high-profile case pertains to allegations that top Congress functionaries conspired to wrongfully acquire control of assets exceeding Rs 2,000 crore belonging to Associated Journals Ltd (AJL), the original publisher of the National Herald newspaper, by paying a nominal amount of Rs 50 lakh through Young Indian — a company in which Sonia and Rahul Gandhi are majority stakeholders.

Earlier, on November 29, the Rouse Avenue Court had deferred the pronouncement of its decision after reserving orders on November 7, noting that further scrutiny of transaction documents, alleged rent receipts and fund flow patterns was required before determining whether the prosecution complaint met the statutory threshold for cognisance under the PMLA.

The ED had argued that the case involved a “serious economic offence” and alleged that a conspiracy was hatched to form Young Indian to usurp AJL’s properties for a nominal sum, primarily to benefit the top Congress leadership.

It had also claimed that several senior Congress leaders were involved in “fake transactions”, including the issuance of fraudulent advance rent payments supported by fabricated rent receipts.

The Congress leadership, however, has consistently denied the allegations, terming the money laundering case as “really strange” and “unprecedented”.

The controversy over the National Herald’s assets came into focus in 2012 when BJP leader Subramanian Swamy filed a complaint in a trial court, alleging that Congress leaders had engaged in cheating and breach of trust in the process of acquiring AJL.

Crime

BMC Employee Booked For 1997 Job Fraud Using Forged Documents; 29-Year Service Under Scanner, FIR Filed

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Mumbai: The Azad Maidan police have booked Vinay Jadhav for allegedly submitting forged documents to obtain a job in the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) under the compassionate policy (preferential treatment) in 1997. He worked with the BMC for 29 years, and his employment came under scrutiny in January 2026.

As per the FIR, Jadhav’s father, Madhukar Jadhav, died in June 1986; Jadhav’s elder brother, Harshraj Jadhav, had already secured a clerk’s job in the BMC under the compassionate policy in December 1986. As per the rules, only one eligible family member can be appointed on compassionate grounds after the death of a parent.

However, in August 1995, Vinay Jadhav allegedly submitted an application to the BMC under the same policy. Police said he submitted forged documents and, in October 1997, fraudulently obtained a job in the civic body.

According to the FIR, Jadhav worked in the BMC’s Licence Department (C Division) as a licence inspector and allegedly cheated the civic body for 29 years.

The matter came to light when Rajeshree Patil, 57, an administrative officer in the BMC’s Licensing Department, initiated an inquiry into alleged irregularities in the hiring, promotion and transfer of employees. The inquiry revealed that officials at the time had failed to properly scrutinise the documents, allowing Jadhav to take undue advantage.

The BMC administration stated in the FIR that Jadhav drew a salary and other benefits over the years, causing financial losses amounting to lakhs of rupees to the civic body. Following the complaint filed by Patil, the Azad Maidan police registered an FIR against Jadhav on April 28 under Sections 318(4) (cheating) and other relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.

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Crime

Colaba Police Book 2 For Impersonation In IBPS Recruitment To Secure New India Assurance Administrative Officer Job

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Mumbai: The Colaba police have booked two individuals for allegedly someone else appeared in interview to New India Assurance Company Limited to secure the post of administrative officer. The accused, Chandan Kumar, worked with the company for one year and nine months and drew a salary of Rs. 20.16 lakh during this period.

According to the FIR, the office of New India Assurance Company Limited is located in Colaba. On July 27, 2023, the company published an advertisement for the post of administrative officer. The company had outsourced the recruitment process to Institute of the IBPS for selecting candidates. IBPS conducted the selection process in three phases. In the final phase, a panel from New India Assurance Company was also involved in the interview process. After completing the process, IBPS selected 450 candidates and sent the list to the company’s Mumbai office.

The accused, Chandan Kumar from Patna, was one of the selected candidates on the list. He joined the company as an administrative officer on April 1, 2024. Meanwhile, on October 6, 2025, the company received an email from balramkuma2067@gmail.com alleging that three candidates, including Chandan Kumar and two others from Bhopal and Delhi, had secured their jobs through fraudulent means. The email claimed that during the selection process, impersonators had appeared for the examination and interviews on behalf of the candidates. The company took the complaint seriously and initiated an inquiry.

Subsequently, Chandan Kumar went on leave. The company contacted him and asked him to present himself at the office for biometric verification. Initially, he gave reasons for not appearing, but in November 2025, he reported to the office. The company found that his biometric data did not match the biometric records collected during the selection process. Consequently, the company terminated his services on January 6, 2026.

In the FIR, the company stated that Chandan Kumar had worked from March 4, 2024, to January 5, 2026, and had drawn a salary of Rs. 20.16 lakh. Based on the complaint, the police registered a cheating case on May 5.

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Crime

Ex bank officer digitally arrested for 54 days on threat of implication in Delhi bomb blast; Rs 40 lakh extorted in Mumbai

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Mumbai, In a shocking cybercrime, fraudsters allegedly placed a retired bank manager under “digital arrest” for 54 days in Mumbai’s Bhandup area, extorting Rs 40.90 lakh by threatening to implicate him in the Delhi bomb blasts and a money laundering case, Mumbai Police said on Wednesday.

According to Mumbai Police, the accused impersonated officers from the Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) and the National Investigation Agency (NIA), creating an atmosphere of fear and psychological pressure that forced the victim to comply with their demands.

The victim, Rajendra, a former manager at the Maharashtra State Co-operative Bank, was manipulated into transferring large sums of money, including liquidating his stock market investments.

The incident began on March 10, when Rajendra received a video call via the Signal app from an account named “ATS Department.” The caller introduced himself as PSI Singh, claiming to be an officer from the Delhi ATS. He alleged that Rajendra’s name had surfaced in connection with the Delhi bomb blasts that took place in January, as well as in a money laundering case.

The fraudsters further claimed that a bank account had been fraudulently opened in Karnataka using Rajendra’s Aadhaar details and mobile number, through which suspicious transactions amounting to Rs 2.65 crore had been carried out. To intensify the threat, they cited a purported Supreme Court order and warned of immediate arrest and confiscation of his assets.

Under constant surveillance via video calls, Rajendra was instructed to isolate himself in a separate room at home, avoid speaking to anyone, and strictly follow their directions. Acting under extreme mental duress, he initially transferred Rs 2.90 lakh. The fraud escalated when he was coerced into selling shares worth Rs 29 lakh from his stock market investments. Of this amount, Rs 28 lakh was siphoned off into multiple bank accounts controlled by the fraudsters.

The accused further extorted Rs 10 lakh under the pretext of “bail security,” which was arranged by the victim’s wife through a loan. The fraudsters assured Rajendra that the entire amount would be refunded within two days and that the case would be resolved.

However, soon after receiving the money, the accused cut off all communication. After waiting for several days without any response, Rajendra realised he had been duped.

He subsequently filed a complaint with the national cybercrime helpline 1930 on May 3, followed by a formal complaint with the Mumbai Cyber Cell on May 4. Police have launched an investigation to trace the perpetrators and identify the bank accounts used in the fraud.

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