# Gandhis tell High Court ED singled them out in National Herald case 2026-09-22T19:17:47+00:00 | Governance | Indian Opinion Desk Corroboration: 4 independent outlets Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi have told the Delhi High Court that the Enforcement Directorate’s (ED) money laundering case against them in the National Herald matter is an “abuse of the process of law” and the only instance where the agency acted on a private complaint, not an FIR. In a reply filed on September 18, the Congress leaders argued the trial court’s December 2025 order refusing to take cognisance was legally sound because the Prevention of Money Laundering Act does not permit proceedings based on a private complaint. The ED had challenged that order within a day, which the Gandhis called “lightning speed” that showed “extraordinary interest”. They said the agency had previously argued that an FIR is required for a predicate offence. The ED countered that a court taking cognisance of a private complaint is a sufficient legal foundation. Justice Sachin Datta adjourned the hearing to October 12. ## Indian Opinion Analysis All five sources report the same core facts: Sonia and Rahul Gandhi have told the Delhi High Court that the ED’s National Herald case is an “abuse of process” because it is the only instance where the agency proceeded on a private complaint, not an FIR. The coverage is uniform straight reporting. Every source attributes the “lightning speed” accusation and the trial court’s December 2025 refusal to take cognisance. No source adds an independent editorial slant. The uniformity shows the legal argument is the only story. The High Court hearing on October 12 will decide whether the PMLA’s foundation can be a private complaint, a question with consequences for all future ED cases. ## Coverage - barandbench.com (neutral report) Leads with ED acting on extraneous considerations, full disclosure of Gandhi arguments - news.abplive.com (neutral report) Leads with Gandhis opposing ED plea, balances with ED counter-argument - timesnownews.com (neutral report) Leads with u2018abuse of processu2019 phrase, extensive Gandhi reply quotes - timesofindia.indiatimes.com (neutral report) Nearly identical to source 4, uses u2018netau2019 informal term - timesofindia.indiatimes.com (neutral report) Nearly identical to source 4, uses u2018netau2019 informal term Tags: Delhi High Court, Enforcement Directorate, National Herald case, Rahul Gandhi, Sonia Gandhi, Subramanian Swamy Canonical: https://indianopinion.org/gandhis-tell-high-court-ed-singled-them-out-in-national-herald-case/ License: Summary and commentary (c) Indian Opinion, reusable with attribution. Facts belong to the linked sources. Cite: https://indianopinion.org/gandhis-tell-high-court-ed-singled-them-out-in-national-herald-case/#story-in-brief