India, Dec. 16 -- A Delhi court on Tuesday declined to take cognisance of the chargesheet filed by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in the National Herald case, which names senior Congress leaders Sonia and Rahul Gandhi.

The court said it is impermissible in law to take judicial note of the charge sheet and summon the Gandhis.

Special Judge Vishal Gogne of Rouse Avenue Court, orally reading from the order, said, "Since the present prosecution complaint pertaining the offences under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) is based on a complaint filed by a private person and does not arise from a first information report (FIR), the cognisance for the same is impermissible in law".

The court further said that since the Delhi Police...