What is the National Herald Case, over which Sonia and Rahul Gandhi have been sent ED Summons?

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi is appearing before the Enforcement Directorate (ED) today. He will be questioned in connection with the National Herald case. At the same time, Congress interim president Sonia Gandhi is now to appear on June 23. Sonia is currently corona infected and admitted to the hospital. Congress workers have come out on the streets across the country. The protest has started. In such a situation, let us know what is the matter of National Herald?

The first Prime Minister of the country, Pt. Jawaharlal Nehru formed the Associated Journal Limited (AJL) on 20 November 1937. Its purpose was to publish newspapers in different languages. Then National Herald in English, Navjeevan in Hindi, and Qaumi Awaaz newspapers in Urdu have published under the AJL.

Even though Pt. Jawahar Lal Nehru had a role in the formation of AJL, but he never owned it. Because 5000 freedom fighters were supporting this company and they were also its shareholders. In the 90s, these newspapers started making losses. By the year 2008, AJL had a debt of over Rs 90 crore. Then AJL decided that newspapers would no longer be published. AJL got into the property business after discontinuing the publication of newspapers.

In 2010, AJL had 1057 shareholders. On incurring losses, its holding was transferred to Young India Limited ie YIL. Young India Limited was established in the same year i.e. 2010. In this, the then General Secretary of the Congress party, Rahul Gandhi joined as a director. Rahul Gandhi and his mother Sonia Gandhi held a 76 percent stake in the company. The remaining 24 percent was held by Congress leaders Motilal Vora and Oscar Fernandes (both have passed away).

The shareholders of AJL came to the fore as soon as the shares were transferred. Several shareholders, including former Law Minister Shanti Bhushan, former Chief Justice of Allahabad and Madras High Courts Markandey Katju, alleged that no notice was served to them when YIL 'acquired' AJL. Not only this, the consent of the shareholders was not even taken before transferring the shares. Please tell that Shanti Bhushan and Markandeya Katju's father had shares in AJL.

In 2012, BJP leader and country's renowned lawyer Subramanian Swamy filed a case against Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi, Motilal Vora, Oscar Fernandes, journalist Suman Dubey and technocrat Sam Pitroda in the National Herald case. Then there was the Congress-led UPA government at the Centre.