In her memoir, Sonia Gandhi says neither she nor Rahul Gandhi got any money from the National Herald revival. She accuses the BJP and RSS of acting as both prosecutor and judge against opposition leaders.
Rahul Gandhi has faced at least 30 cases across eight states, and a 2023 defamation conviction over a rally remark cost him his Parliament seat.
The revival was structured as a non-profit, yet a criminal conspiracy case was brought in 2015 and the Enforcement Directorate later launched its own prosecution. The matter is still in court more than twelve years on.
AAP, which governs Punjab, is facing sharp questions from the Opposition as state elections draw near. The issues range from the drug problem to corruption among people in positions of power.
Central government agencies such as the ED and the CBI have also moved against party leaders in the state. A string of defections has added to the pressure, and Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann has asked leaders to stay loyal to their parties.
Punjab minister Harpal Cheema has accused the BJP-led Centre of using agencies such as the Enforcement Directorate and CBI during election periods. His remarks came after ED searches at seven premises linked to AAP MLA Amandeep Kaur Arora of Moga.
The ED case is based on a June 2024 Punjab Police FIR over alleged fraud involving government land acquired for National Highway 754A and wrongful compensation payouts. Her husband's de-addiction hospital was also searched.
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