In the National Herald case, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Tuesday conducted searches at Herald House and various places in Delhi in connection with the alleged money laundering case. According to reports, the central agency is conducting raids at a total of 12 locations, including the office of the Congress-owned National Herald newspaper in Delhi in connection with the case. Officials said a search operation is being conducted under criminal sections of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) to collect additional evidence regarding the money trail.

Last week, the ED questioned Congress President Sonia Gandhi for nearly three hours in the National Herald case. During interrogation, he was asked about the functioning and operation of the newspaper, the role of its various office bearers and his and Rahul Gandhi's involvement in the affairs of National Herald and Young Indian. Earlier in June, the ED questioned Rahul Gandhi for five days in the National Herald case.

The case was registered nine months ago to probe alleged financial irregularities under the PMLA, when a trial court ordered the Income Tax Department on the basis of a private criminal complaint filed by former Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP Subramanian Swamy. took cognizance of the investigation. The petitioner had approached the court alleging that the assets of Associated Journals Limited (AJL), which published the National Herald newspaper, were fraudulently acquired and transferred to Young Indian Private Limited (YIL), in which Sonia Gandhi and his son had 38 percent stake. The promoters of YIL include Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi. Swamy had alleged that the Gandhi family had cheated and misappropriated funds, YIL gained the right to recover Rs 90.25 crore by paying only Rs 50 lakh, which AJL owed the Congress.