Probe Herald case swiftly

The Delhi high court has permitted an income-tax investigation in the National Herald case. This is just as well. If impartiality rules, the Congress’ top leaders may find their claims upheld, or explanations may be sought. The affairs of Young Indian, the company formed by Congress leaders Sonia and Rahul Gandhi, besides some others of the Congress Working Committee, to discharge the huge debts of Associated Journals Ltd, the company which owned the newspaper, when the Herald ceased publication in 2008, will thus come under the scanner.

The Gandhis’ best hope lies in the prospect of the income-tax probe being done swiftly and transparently, so that the impression of a political vendetta at the instance of influential elements in the BJP are dispelled.

The suspicion that there may be a political axe to grind specially came to the fore when an initial Enforcement Directorate probe was ordered by the present government and the official conducting the probe was replaced. The National Herald was founded with his own funds by Jawaharlal Nehru in the pre-independence era and edited by him. Many leading lights of society had associated themselves with it. The newspaper subsequently became a Congress organ in effect and was financially bailed out by the party from time to time.

When it ceased publication, Young Indian took on its assets and liabilities. BJP leader Subramanian Swamy has alleged that the Gandhis personally benefited from renting out the fixed assets owned by the company when it ceased publication. The tax probe should help clear up all such doubts.