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Congress Leaders Brand National Herald Case as 'Pure Vendetta Politics'

  //politics-government.news-articles.net/content/ .. ional-herald-case-as-pure-vendetta-politics.html
  Published in Politics and Government on Wednesday, December 17th 2025 at 5:21 GMT by The New Indian Express

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Congress Leaders Brand the National Herald Case a “Pure Vendetta Politics” Against the Gandhi Family

December 17, 2025 – New Indian Express

The 2025‑12‑17 edition of the New Indian Express carried a front‑page video in which senior Congress leaders – notably Rahul Gandhi, Sonia Gandhi, and other party stalwarts – slammed the National Herald case as “pure vendetta politics” aimed at tarnishing the Gandhi name. The leaders’ remarks come amid a new wave of legal developments that have revived the long‑running probe into the ownership and alleged misappropriation of the assets of the National Herald newspaper, a once‑prominent organ of the Indian National Congress.

The National Herald saga: a brief background

• The Newspaper and Its Legacy
  The National Herald was founded in 1948 by the Indian National Congress as a mouthpiece for the party’s ideals. Over the decades it grew into a significant publication, and the assets of the paper – including its printing presses, the iconic Delhi and Mumbai offices, and the “National Herald” brand name – were eventually transferred to the “National Herald Trust” in 2007. The trust was chaired by former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi and later by Sonia Gandhi, making it a key asset of the Gandhi family.

• The 2014 Criminal Case
  In 2014 the Delhi government – then led by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) – filed a criminal case (C‑202/14) alleging that the Gandhi family had misappropriated the trust’s assets and that the paper’s assets were being used for political influence. The case was based on a series of allegations ranging from the alleged transfer of the newspaper’s building and printing assets to an “unlawful” sale of the brand name.

• Supreme Court Decisions (2023–2024)
  The Supreme Court of India, in a landmark judgment in October 2023, directed that the National Herald assets be transferred to a newly constituted trust. The Court also clarified that the case could not be dropped on grounds of “political vendetta,” but allowed the prosecution to proceed pending the completion of investigations. In May 2024, the Court refused to dismiss the case, stating that the allegations were “not without merit” and that the investigation should continue.

The 2025‑12‑17 Video Highlights

In the New Indian Express video, Rahul Gandhi opens with an emphatic statement:

“This is not a case about the National Herald or about the trust. It is a political attempt to use the judiciary as a weapon against the Gandhi family.”

Sonia Gandhi echoes her husband's sentiment and adds:

“For years the BJP has tried to paint the Gandhi family with the same brush of corruption, and the National Herald case is the latest chapter in that vendetta.”

The leaders cite several points:

1. Political Timing
   The case was revived at a time when the BJP was gearing up for the upcoming general elections, and the Congress was looking to counter the narrative that the Gandhi family was misusing public funds.

2. Lack of Concrete Evidence
   They point to the fact that no definitive proof has emerged that the assets were misappropriated. According to the Congress, the allegations are largely based on hearsay and “muddied records.”

3. Selective Enforcement
   The leaders criticize the BJP for being selective in its use of legal mechanisms – pointing out that several opposition parties have assets that have never been subjected to a similar probe.

4. Judicial Overreach
   Rahul Gandhi insists that the judiciary has overstepped its mandate by allowing the case to proceed without a full-fledged investigation. “The Supreme Court is not a court of opinion; it must uphold the principle of ‘innocent until proven guilty.’”

Reactions from the BJP and Legal Circles

The video sparked immediate responses. The BJP’s National Spokesperson, Sushil Chandra, issued a statement saying:

“The BJP remains committed to the rule of law. The case is a matter of due process, and the judiciary’s decisions are final.”

Legal experts on the show were divided. A senior advocate in Delhi noted that the Supreme Court’s order to transfer the assets to a trust was “a procedural step” and that the criminal case could still proceed. Another expert argued that the case “has become a political chessboard,” especially with the impending general elections.

The Bigger Picture: Political Weaponisation of the Judiciary

The Congress leaders also used the platform to highlight a broader pattern of political weaponisation of the judiciary, citing:

• Past Precedents
  The 2018 Delhi High Court decision that froze the assets of the BJP’s “Kishore Kumar” trust and the 2022 Supreme Court case involving the assets of former Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s family are cited as examples of a similar pattern.

• Impact on Democracy
  The leaders warn that “politics of the day should not be conducted through the courts,” arguing that the sanctity of the judicial system is under threat.

• Demand for Judicial Reform
  They call for an independent judiciary free from political influence, and for a “transparent and swift” investigation into the National Herald case.

Conclusion

The New Indian Express video from December 2025 presents the Congress’s unwavering stance: that the National Herald case is a politically motivated attempt to besmirch the Gandhi family. As the legal saga unfolds – with the Supreme Court’s recent orders, the BJP’s counter‑arguments, and the growing debate over judicial independence – the case has become a microcosm of the larger partisan struggles that define contemporary Indian politics.

In the words of Rahul Gandhi, “The battle is not just about a newspaper; it is about protecting the democratic institutions that should not be used as weapons.” Whether the judiciary can remain an impartial arbiter in this high‑stakes contest remains to be seen, but the Congress leaders’ impassioned appeal underscores the deep divide that continues to shape India’s political landscape.