New Delhi, Dec. 23 -- The Delhi High Court on Monday issued notice to senior Congress leaders Sonia and Rahul Gandhi, and the other accused , in connection with a plea moved by the Enforcement Directorate, challenging a trial court decision refusing cognisance of the prosecution complaint filed in the National Herald money laundering probe. The response was sought by Justice Ravinder Dudeja, who also heard the submissions made by Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing on behalf of the federal agency. Senior Advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi represented the Gandhis. The court has listed the matter for further hearing on March 12, 2026. During the proceedings, SG Mehta, argued that the trial court had failed to recognise that the relevant court has already taken cognisance of the private complaint made by Dr. Subramaniam Swamy in the National Herald case, and that subsequent challenges of that cognisance have been rejected by the Supreme Court. The solicitor argued, ".the trial court's order turns PMLA (Prevention of Money Laundering Act) on its head and could have a wider impact on other cases". SG Mehta submitted that the agency's actions cannot be restricted only to cases where an FIR has been lodged as a predicate offence, highlighting that in several instances, FIR may not be registered because the scheduled offence is non-cognisable. "Cognisance taken on a private complaint carries a much higher legal standing than an FIR," Mehta claimed. FULL STORY ON P4...