The BJP today claimed that fake rent agreements, advance rent payments and bogus advertisements were used for money laundering in the National Herald case. Briefing media in New Delhi, party spokesperson Pratyush Kanth said, National Herald was launched in 1938 to voice the sentiments of people, but the Congress top leadership sought to turn it into private property by eying its real estate.

He alleged that a big part of the 142 crore rupees rent received by the Associated Journal Limited, AJL, which owns the National Herald newspaper, had no basis in any agreement. Mr Kanth also alleged that advertisements worth over 15 crore rupees were given to the paper from Congress-affiliated bodies. He said, AJL earned revenue of over 29 crore rupees from advertisements published in its newspapers during the period 2017 to 2021, despite the fact that the publication had ceased operations in 2008.

Mr Kanth claimed AJL received bogus advance rent payments amounting to over 38 crore rupees from various parties, some of whom stated that they gave the money at the direction of Congress leaders. He said, Congress is running a school of corruption and all their thefts are being caught.