BJP supporters in Mumbai have stirred controversy by demanding “bulldozer action” against properties linked to the National Herald case. This comes in the wake of the Enforcement Directorate (ED) filing a chargesheet against senior Congress leaders Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi.
Leading the charge was BJP leader Vishwabandhu Rai, who displayed provocative posters outside the Associated Journals Limited (AJL) building in Bandra. These posters, featuring images of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, bore the slogan “Deva Bhau, Bulldozer Chalao,” calling for the demolition of properties associated with the case.
The ED submitted its chargesheet on Tuesday, naming Sonia and Rahul Gandhi as accused in the National Herald money laundering case. Other prominent Congress figures such as Sam Pitroda and Suman Dubey have also been named. The document, filed earlier in April, is currently under review by Special Judge Vishal Gogne, who is expected to decide on taking cognisance during the next hearing scheduled for April 25.
The agency has already initiated proceedings to seize properties worth over ₹700 crore belonging to AJL—a company closely associated with the Gandhi family. The assets in question include high-value real estate in cities such as Delhi, Mumbai, and Lucknow, notably including the iconic Herald House located on Bahadur Shah Zafar Marg in the national capital.
AJL, the publisher of the National Herald newspaper, is owned by Young Indian Private Limited, in which Sonia and Rahul Gandhi hold a combined 76% stake, making them majority shareholders.
The ED has clarified that the recent developments are part of its ongoing investigation under Section 8 of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002, and relevant rules from 2013 concerning the possession of attached or frozen properties.
As political tensions mount, the demand for bulldozer action signals an escalation in the BJP’s offensive, mirroring tactics employed in other states, particularly Uttar Pradesh. The situation continues to fuel political debate around alleged misuse of power and selective targeting of opposition leaders.
