India

Intelligence for Better Decision Making

Fresh Delhi Police FIR Targets Gandhis and Congress Leaders in National Herald Property Case

Dec. 1, 2025 | Governance & Law

Authorities have filed fresh legal charges in the National Herald case, targeting key political figures and companies over alleged fraudulent property transfers.

**On October 3, the Economic Offences Wing of the Delhi Police registered a new FIR against Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi and six others, including Congress leaders Sam Pitroda and Suman Dubey.**
Filed on a complaint from the Enforcement Directorate’s Headquarters Investigative Unit, the FIR alleges that the accused conspired to acquire Associated Journals Ltd (AJL) by fraudulent means and transferred properties valued at around ₹2,000 crore to Young Indian, a company in which Sonia and Rahul Gandhi hold a 76% stake.

**The ED authorized the FIR under Section 66(2) of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, which allows it to share evidence with law enforcement agencies for scheduled offences.**
This investigation stems from a 2014 private complaint filed by former BJP MP Subramanian Swamy, which the Patiala House magistrate’s court has pursued. In April 2025, the ED submitted a prosecution complaint against Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi and others, but the court has not yet taken cognizance of those charges.

**Besides the Gandhis, the FIR names the late Motilal Vora, Oscar Fernandes, Suman Dubey, Sam Pitroda, and entities such as Associated Journals Ltd, Young Indian, and Dotex Merchandise Pvt Ltd.**
The ED alleges that Dotex, a Kolkata-based shell company, funneled approximately ₹1 crore into Young Indian, which then paid ₹50 lakh to the Congress party as consideration for acquiring AJL’s assets. The charges encompass criminal conspiracy, dishonest misappropriation of property, criminal breach of trust and cheating under relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code.

**A Delhi court has deferred any order on the ED’s chargesheet until December 16, citing the accused’s right to be heard under Section 223 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023.**
The court has issued notices to Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi and the other accused, scheduling the next hearing for December 16 to determine whether to formally take cognizance of the ED’s charges.

**The Congress party denies all allegations, calling the FIR and investigation a political vendetta.**
Party spokespersons accuse the Enforcement Directorate of acting as a “coalition partner” to the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party and reject any misuse of positions or funds in acquiring AJL’s assets.

Delhi Faces Renewed Crisis as Hazardous Air Pollution Persists

Dec. 1, 2025 | Environment

Delhi continues to grapple with hazardous air pollution levels that pose severe health risks and spur public outcry.

**The air quality in Delhi has persistently hovered between “very poor” and “severe” readings over recent weeks.**
On November 29, 2025, the Central Pollution Control Board recorded an AQI of 332, slightly below the previous day’s 369. Overnight winds drove the index down to 270 by Sunday morning, moving it into the “poor” category and ending a 24-day stretch of “very poor” air. Although the stronger winds prevented a slide into “severe,” experts warn pollution will likely return to “very poor” once meteorological conditions stabilize.

**City assessments attribute nearly 35% of particulate matter to vehicular emissions, while the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology recorded that figure at 18.7% on certain days.**
Contributing factors include deteriorating public transport, congested roads, and emissions from industrial units—many operating illegally with local authority collusion. Open burning of municipal solid waste and a stalled waste-to-energy rollout have also worsened air quality. Seasonal stubble burning in neighboring states has played a smaller role in recent spikes than initially assumed.

**Monitoring data from 38 CPCB stations shows significant spatial variation.**
Dilshad Garden, Jahangirpuri, Nehru Nagar, RK Puram and Shadipur remained in the “very poor” bracket even during the overall improvement, while Mandir Marg recorded the best index at 157, classified as “moderate.” In ITO, dense smog persisted, leaving residents with respiratory distress, eye irritation and anxiety over possible volcanic ash deposits from distant eruptions.

**Political figures across party lines have condemned the crisis.**
Congress leader Sandeep Dikshit called the pollution a “slow poison,” blaming both the BJP-led central government and Delhi’s AAP administration for favoring populist measures over essential services. Rahul Gandhi has demanded a full parliamentary debate and a legally binding action plan, criticizing the Modi government for its lack of urgency and accountability.

**Former Puducherry Lieutenant Governor Kiran Bedi criticized government-issued air purifiers in official buildings and residences, arguing that officials shielded by purified indoor air fail to grasp outdoor severity.**
She urged a ban on publicly funded purifiers, public display of purifier-usage indicators at government sites and regular virtual reviews led by the Prime Minister with neighboring states’ chief ministers and secretaries to enforce pollution control.

**Despite Delhi authorities’ claims of daily monitoring and mitigation, critics point to the absence of a coherent, multi-stakeholder strategy.**
Proposed measures under discussion include expanding public transport fleets, tightening vehicle emission norms, enforcing closures of illicit industrial operations and accelerating waste-to-energy initiatives.

Monitored Intelligence for India - Dec. 1, 2025

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IBC misuse, rigging of bids before NCLT under scanner

Times of India | English | News | Dec. 1, 2025 | Corporate Corruption or Fraud

Central agencies, including the Enforcement Directorate (ED), are investigating alleged misuse and rigging of bids under the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (IBC) process before the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT). The probe includes cases of collusion among bank officials, resolution professionals, buyers, and advocates, leading to undervalued sales of land and significant financial irregularities. ED conducted searches on November 20 at multiple locations related to middlemen involved in the insolvency process, seizing evidence of bid rigging and unaccounted cash amounting to Rs 50 lakh.

The investigations highlight manipulation in bidding with predetermined, artificially suppressed bids and collusion involving a private bank official, who accepted major losses despite land value appreciation. Homebuyers were kept uninformed by resolution professionals about the undervalued sales. The cases involve entities such as Universal BuildWell, which failed to complete real estate projects, and RDB Infrastructure & Power Ltd, accused of illicit gains outside regulated frameworks.

Amit Katyal, aide to former railway minister Lalu Prasad Yadav, was arrested on November 17 for real estate fraud related to Angle Infrastructure Pvt Ltd and the Krrish Florence Estate project in Gurgaon. He is accused of fraudulent bookings, misappropriation of licensed land worth Rs 130 crore at undervalued prices, diversion of funds, and money laundering involving loans from multiple banks. Katyal faces several FIRs and had previously been arrested in 2023 for a Railway jobs-for-land scam.

Tata Sons: Air India a ‘responsibility’, not just biz opportunity

Times of India | English | News | Dec. 1, 2025 | UndeterminedBizdev-Partnering

Tata Sons Chairman N Chandrasekaran emphasized that Air India is a responsibility for Tata Group rather than just a business opportunity. Since acquiring Air India in 2022, the group views the airline’s transformation as part of its commitment to India’s growing aviation sector, which is expected to expand significantly alongside the country's economic growth.

Chandrasekaran highlighted the direct correlation between GDP growth and domestic aviation growth, projecting that with India’s sustained economic expansion over the next three decades, the aviation industry will experience substantial growth. However, he acknowledged challenges such as supply chain disruptions, geopolitical uncertainties affecting flight routes, and the capital-intensive nature of the aviation business with thin margins.

India’s rising consumer confidence, consumption-driven growth, and infrastructure investments support the country's trajectory to becoming a $5 trillion economy, requiring enhanced connectivity. Chandrasekaran reaffirmed Tata Group’s commitment to building Air India into a world-class airline amid these dynamics and complexities.

Delhi blast: NIA team arrests two from Uttarakhand's Haldwani

The Hindu | English | News | Dec. 1, 2025 | Terrorism

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) arrested Mohammad Asif, an imam of the Bilali mosque, and his associate Nazar Kamal, an electrician, from the Banbhulpura area in Haldwani, Uttarakhand, in connection with a car blast near Delhi's Red Fort. The arrests were made late on November 28, 2025, following leads obtained through call details linked to Dr. Umar Nabi, the main accused in the blast.

The NIA conducted the arrests with assistance from police in both Delhi and Haldwani, and the accused have since been taken to Delhi. Security has been tightened around the Bilali mosque and the imam’s residence in Haldwani, with increased police presence led by Haldwani city Superintendent of Police Manoj Kumar Katyal and Lal Kuan Deputy Superintendent of Police Deepshikha Agarwal. Additionally, the NIA and Uttarakhand police questioned individuals at a mosque in Nainital.

The blast occurred on November 10, 2025, when a high-intensity explosion tore through a slow-moving car at a traffic signal near the Red Fort in Delhi, resulting in 15 deaths and multiple injuries.

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