Overview
- The court issued notices to Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi and other respondents on the ED’s petition, also seeking their reply on the agency’s request to stay the trial court’s December 16 order.
- Solicitor General Tushar Mehta argued the trial court’s view “puts PMLA on its head,” submitting that cognisance on a private complaint satisfies the law and that the ruling could affect other cases.
- The Rouse Avenue court had declined cognisance of the ED’s prosecution complaint, holding it was not maintainable without an FIR and criticising the ED for registering an ECIR in 2021 despite no prior police case.
- The ED’s case alleges Young Indian, in which Sonia and Rahul Gandhi hold a majority stake, gained control of AJL assets valued at over ₹2,000 crore for ₹50 lakh; other proposed accused include Sam Pitroda, Suman Dubey, Sunil Bhandari, Young Indian and Dotex Merchandise Pvt Ltd.
- The High Court listed the matter for March 12, 2026, as the ED continues its probe and has recently moved to take possession of AJL-linked properties valued at about ₹661 crore under the PMLA.