Herald case: Court exempts Gandhis, grants bail to Pitroda

New Delhi, Feb 20  A court here on Saturday granted bail to Sam Pitroda, a former chairman of the National Innovation Council, and also granted exemption to Congress president Sonia Gandhi, vice president Rahul Gandhi and others in the National Herald case as per the Supreme Court directives.

Metropolitan Magistrate Lovleen granted bail to Pitroda after he appeared before him asking him to furnish a personal bond of Rs.50,000 and a surety of like amount.

The court also granted exemption from personal appearance to Gandhis, Congress treasurer Motilal Vora, Gandhis' family friend Suman Dubey and another party leader Oscar Fernandes, who are out on bail.

The apex court on February 12 exempted the Gandhis and others from personal appearances, noting their presence in the trial court would cause more inconvenience than convenience.

The court also fixed March 21 for further hearing of the case.

Bharatiya Janata Party leader Subramanian Swamy has initiated the case against Gandhis and others.

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., which published the National Herald newspaper, by Young India Ltd., "a firm in which Sonia and Rahul Gandhi each own a 38 percent stake".

Vora, Dubey, Fernandes and Pitroda were also named as accused in the case.

The Delhi High Court in December dismissed the plea of the Gandhis to quash the summons issued to them by the trial court on Swamy's complaint.