Enforcement Directorate vs Aristo Group and others

A Delhi court has framed charges against RJD chief Lalu Yadav and his family members in connection with the land-for-jobs case, paving the way for trial.

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) filed a prosecution complaint (chargesheet) under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) before Rouse Avenue Courts, Delhi, naming Congress leaders Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi, Sam Pitroda, Suman Dubey, and others, alleging laundering of proceeds of crime derived from the alleged fraudulent takeover of Associated Journals Limited (AJL) properties worth over ₹2,000 crore by Young Indian Pvt. Ltd. Special Judge Vishal Gogne of Rouse Avenue Courts declined to take cognizance of the complaint in December 2025, holding it was not maintainable, while permitting the ED to continue its probe. The ED has challenged this order before the Delhi High Court, which issued notice to the accused on 22 December 2025. All persons named remain accused and are presumed innocent unless a court judgment holds otherwise.

The CBI registered an FIR in July 2022 alleging that Delhi's Excise Policy 2021-22 was manipulated to facilitate monopolisation and cartelisation of the liquor trade, with AAP leaders allegedly receiving kickbacks from liquor manufacturers. The Enforcement Directorate (ED) separately registered a money laundering case under PMLA. On 27 February 2026, the Rouse Avenue Special Court (PC Act) discharged all 23 accused — including former Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal and former Deputy CM Manish Sisodia — holding that no prima facie case was made out and criticising the CBI's investigation. The CBI has since challenged the discharge order before the Delhi High Court — that revision is currently being heard by Justice Manoj Jain after Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma withdrew following contempt proceedings she had initiated against the accused. A parallel ED/PMLA case remains active at the Rouse Avenue Court, the hearing of which was directed to be deferred pending the High Court's disposal of the CBI revision.