New Delhi: 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. (IANS)
