In a sharp escalation of political tensions, the Indian National Congress has announced nationwide protests on Wednesday, April 16, 2025, against the Enforcement Directorate (ED) for filing a chargesheet against Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi in connection with the National Herald case. The protests are aimed at expressing strong opposition to what the party claims is political vendetta and intimidation tactics orchestrated by the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the central government.

The decision to stage protests outside ED offices across the country was announced by senior Congress leader KC Venugopal, who sharply criticised the ED’s actions and accused the agency of working as a tool for the central government’s “politics of harassment.”

Congress Slams ED and the Centre

Addressing the media, KC Venugopal called the case a “witch hunt” driven by frivolous and fabricated charges. “This witch hunt against Sonia Gandhi ji and Rahul Gandhi ji using the politically motivated National Herald case is a clear example of an attempt to silence opposition voices,” said Venugopal. He further alleged that Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah were failing to address the real issues of the people and are therefore creating distractions through legal and investigative harassment.

“This reeks of desperation from PM Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah,” Venugopal said, adding, “They have forgotten that this is a family that has given its blood for the country. These petty tactics will only strengthen our resolve against this divisive regime.”

Chargesheet and Legal Developments

The ED filed the chargesheet on April 9, naming Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi, Suman Dubey, and Sam Pitroda as accused under Sections 3 and 4 of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), which pertain to money laundering and associated punishments. The chargesheet was presented before Special Judge Vishal Gogne, who took it under consideration and has scheduled April 25 for further legal proceedings.

The ED has also issued notices for possession of immovable assets worth Rs 661 crore, attached as part of the ongoing investigation linked to the Congress-associated Associated Journals Limited (AJL) and the National Herald newspaper. The federal agency claimed it served the documents to the concerned property registrars where these assets are located.

Singhvi Defends the Gandhis, Dismisses Case as ‘Fake’

Congress leader and senior lawyer Abhishek Manu Singhvi strongly rebutted the charges, calling the entire case “fake and non-existent.” In a video statement, Singhvi pointed out that the ED was “exposing itself and its vendetta politics” by initiating a money laundering probe without any actual movement of money or property.

“This is a one-trick wonder,” Singhvi said, “where a not-for-profit company was created to manage the affairs of National Herald. There were no dividends, no commercial transactions. Yet, the mere creation of this entity has been twisted into a money laundering narrative.”

Singhvi insisted that all persons involved had already recorded their statements with investigative authorities and reiterated that the charges will be fought and defeated in court. He also recalled that the initial stages of this case were politically charged and had no legal foundation.

Backdrop: The National Herald Case

The National Herald case has been a long-standing legal matter in Indian political circles. The case revolves around the transfer of shares of AJL, which owns the National Herald newspaper, to Young Indian Pvt Ltd, a company in which Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi held significant shares. Critics of the Congress party allege the transaction allowed the Gandhis to gain control over real estate and assets worth hundreds of crores without paying due consideration. The Congress, however, has consistently maintained that there was no wrongful gain and that the move was purely to preserve the legacy of the newspaper founded by Jawaharlal Nehru.

BJP's Political Strategy Under Fire

Several Congress leaders have accused the Modi government of misusing central agencies like the ED, CBI, and IT department to harass and malign political rivals. They point to similar patterns of legal action against opposition leaders across states, especially as India heads into a high-stakes election year.

“This is not just an attack on the Gandhis,” said a Congress spokesperson. “This is an attack on democracy, dissent, and the basic fabric of our Republic. It’s a warning that no voice against the government will be spared.”

Nationwide Protest Plan

Congress units have been directed to organise peaceful dharnas and sit-ins outside ED offices in all major cities including Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Kolkata, Hyderabad, Lucknow, and Chennai. Visuals are expected to show prominent Congress leaders leading the protests, possibly including Mallikarjun Kharge, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, Ashok Gehlot, and Jairam Ramesh.

The party has also urged supporters to maintain peace and discipline during the protests to avoid any confrontations with law enforcement. Security has been beefed up in several cities in anticipation of large crowds and political tensions.

Reactions From Across the Political Spectrum

While most opposition parties have so far maintained a guarded stance, a few have shown solidarity with the Congress, criticising the central government's alleged overreach through federal agencies.

Political observers see this as a significant inflection point in the ongoing tussle between the Modi-led central government and the Congress party. With the 2025 General Elections drawing closer, both camps are likely to intensify their narratives — the BJP projecting itself as tough on corruption, and the Congress portraying itself as a victim of authoritarian rule.

Looking Ahead

The April 25 hearing will be a critical date to watch, as it will indicate whether the court finds sufficient grounds for cognisance of the charges and whether the matter will move to trial. In the meantime, the Congress is likely to continue leveraging this issue to rally its base and appeal to the broader electorate by casting itself as the primary target of political suppression.

As the protest unfolds today across the nation, the Congress's messaging remains clear: it will not back down, and it is ready to take the fight to the streets, the courts, and the voters.

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