Headlines
Herald case: Sonia, Rahul asked to appear on December 19
New Delhi, Dec 8 A court here on Tuesday asked Congress chief Sonia Gandhi, vice president Rahul Gandhi and others to appear on December 19 in connection with a complaint filed by BJP leader Subramanian Swamy in the National Herald newspaper case.
Metropolitan Magistrate Lovleen also granted them exemption from personal appearance on Tuesday.
The Delhi High Court on Monday dismissed the plea of the Gandhis to quash the summons issued to them by a trial court on Swamy's complaint regarding the acquisition of National Herald and asked them to appear before trial court on Tuesday.
On June 26 last year, the trial court issued summons to the Congress leaders on Swamy's complaint about "cheating" in the acquisition of Associated Journals Ltd. (AJL) by Young India Ltd. (YIL) - "a firm in which Sonia and Rahul Gandhi each own a 38 percent stake".
Appearing for the Gandhis, senior advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi told the court that both were willing to appear but the Delhi High Court order was received late.
He moved an application to seek exemption from appearance for the Gandhis for the day.
Senior advocate Ramesh Gupta, counsel for another accused Sam Pitroda, a former chairman of National Innovation Council, while seeking exemption from appearance for his client, told the court that Pitroda lived in the US and needed time to reach India.
Congress treasurer Moti Lal Vora, Gandhis' family friend Suman Dubey and another party leader Oscar Fernandes were also granted exemption.
Complainant Swamy opposed their plea for exemption.
During a previous hearing in the case, the trial court had said that the YIL appeared to have been "created as a sham or a cloak to convert public money to personal use" or a special purpose vehicle to acquire control over AJL assets worth Rs.2,000 crore.
Swamy alleged that the AJL received an interest-free loan of Rs.90.25 crore from the Congress and the party transferred the debt to YIL for Rs.50 lakh.
At that time, AJL with Vora as its chairman allegedly said it could not repay the loan and agreed to transfer the company and its assets to YIL.
No illegality in National Herald case, says Congress
Accusing the BJP of running a political vendetta against it, the Congress on Tuesday said it did not do anything illegal in the National Herald newspaper case and will fight it out in the court of law.
"National Herald newspaper has been a part of Congress' legacy ever since it came into being. The party helped it by giving it loans as and when required, and there was nothing wrong in it," senior Congress leader Kapil Sibal said at a press conference here in Parliament House complex.
He said that he along with fellow Congress leader Abhishek Singhvi was present before the court earlier in the day and requested the judge to give a date and time so that the party leaders can appear before it.
On Monday, the Delhi High Court dismissed the plea of Congress president Sonia Gandhi and her son and party vice president Rahul Gandhi to quash the summons issued to them by a trial court on BJP leader Subramanian Swamy's complaint regarding the acquisition of National Herald.
The court asked them to appear before trial court on Tuesday.
"I was there from 10.30 to 11.30 a.m. We requested the court that the accused Congress leaders want to appear before it and it could give date and time according to its convenience," Singhvi said.
He said it was the court's decision to fix December 19 as the date for the Congress leader to appear before it.
Both Sibal and Singhvi are senior lawyers and argued that giving loan to a company cannot be a criminal activity.
"Filing such cases show that government's fear that it cannot defeat the Congress, and people like Subramanian Swamy have been kept in the BJP for such acts," Sibal said.
On being asked whether the Congress would allow passage of the GST bill in parliament, the Congress leader said that they would want it to be passed.
"National Herald newspaper has been a part of Congress' legacy ever since it came into being. The party helped it by giving it loans as and when required, and there was nothing wrong in it," senior Congress leader Kapil Sibal said at a press conference here in Parliament House complex.
He said that he along with fellow Congress leader Abhishek Singhvi was present before the court earlier in the day and requested the judge to give a date and time so that the party leaders can appear before it.
On Monday, the Delhi High Court dismissed the plea of Congress president Sonia Gandhi and her son and party vice president Rahul Gandhi to quash the summons issued to them by a trial court on BJP leader Subramanian Swamy's complaint regarding the acquisition of National Herald.
The court asked them to appear before trial court on Tuesday.
"I was there from 10.30 to 11.30 a.m. We requested the court that the accused Congress leaders want to appear before it and it could give date and time according to its convenience," Singhvi said.
He said it was the court's decision to fix December 19 as the date for the Congress leader to appear before it.
Both Sibal and Singhvi are senior lawyers and argued that giving loan to a company cannot be a criminal activity.
"Filing such cases show that government's fear that it cannot defeat the Congress, and people like Subramanian Swamy have been kept in the BJP for such acts," Sibal said.
On being asked whether the Congress would allow passage of the GST bill in parliament, the Congress leader said that they would want it to be passed.
12 hours ago
South Korean President voices hope for finding 'reasonable' solution in trade talks with US
12 hours ago
Trump spells out displeasures against allies, but NATO treaty to continue
12 hours ago
In New York, Piyush Goyal calls for expanding India-US energy trade
13 hours ago
India’s first light tram system in Kochi; expected to be a solution to traffic congestion.
13 hours ago
Double joy after an unparalleled tragedy; on the same day, a family welcomes triplets in place of the children they had lost.
14 hours ago
Both India, US-based firms raised concerns on sufficient availability of talent: Dhruva Jaishankar on H-1B fee hike
14 hours ago
Trump believes Ukraine will be back to its "original form" with EU, NATO support after meeting with Zelenskyy
14 hours ago
'US just endorsed Milei for President,' Trump tells Argentia President on UNGA sidelines
15 hours ago
'Highly skilled Indians are welcome': German Envoy invites applications to work amid US' H1B Visa row
17 hours ago
Month after facing sexual misconduct charges, Rahul Mamkootathil returns to Palakkad amid protests
19 hours ago
Papon bids adieu to his friend, and Assam’s cultural icon Zubeen Garg
19 hours ago
When Shah Rukh Khan faked an epileptic fit to bunk a class with friends
19 hours ago
Vicky Kaushal is all hearts as ‘Sam Bahadur’ feted with National Award