National Herald case: HC grants time to respond

The India — Delhi High Court on July 27, 2026 granted three weeks to Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi, and other respondents to file replies to the India — Enforcement Directorate's plea challenging a trial court order that refused to take cognisance of the ED's money laundering chargesheet in the National Herald case. The matter will be heard on September 10. The ED alleges that the Gandhis and others conspired to acquire properties worth approximately Rs 2,000 crore belonging to National Herald case (AJL), publisher of the National Herald newspaper, through fraudulent means. The trial court had ruled that the prosecution complaint under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002 was not maintainable without an FIR for the scheduled offence. The ED argues that the trial court's order effectively gives a 'hall pass' to money launderers and that cognisance on a private complaint stands on higher footing than a police FIR.