Sonia, Rahul get bail, next hearing on Feb 20
Sonia, Rahul get bail, next hearing on Feb 20
New Delhi,19 December: Congress president Sonia Gandhi and vice-president Rahul Gandhi were granted bail in the National Herald case, minutes after they arrived in court. They have been granted bail on personal surety of Rs 50,000 each. The next date of hearing is February 20, 2016. Meanwhile, there was unprecedented security at the Patiala House court with 16 new cameras being installed to keep a vigil on movement inside and outside the complex. The Gandhis did not move for exemption from personal appearance. The complaint was filed by BJP leader Subramanian Swamy. Earlier, the entire Congress brass was present in court as Sonia and Rahul walked in for the hearing. Apart of Sonia-Rahul all accused in the case have been given bail. All of them were present in the court except Sam Pitroda due to medical conditions,” advocate and senior Congress leader Abhishek Manu Singhvi representing the Gandhis told reporters outside the court. The five other accused in the case are — Suman Dubey, Motilal Vora, Oscar Fernandes, Sam Pitroda and Young Indian. Kapil Sibal, who too appeared on their behalf, told reporters that the court rejected petitioner Subramanian Swamy’s plea to impose restrictions on their travel abroad. Sibal said the next date of hearing was on February 20, 2016 at 2 pm. Senior party leader AK Antony stood surety for Sonia Gandhi and Priyanka was the guarantor for her brother Rahul Gandhi.
The bail was granted on furnishing personal bond of Rs.50,000 and one surety each. The mother-son duo reached Patiala House court complex at around 2.50 pm and the hearing began at about 3 pm. The arguments went on for around 5 minutes before they were granted bail. Top party leadership including former prime minister Manmohan Singh, Ghulam Nabi Azad, Meira Kumar, Sheila Dikshit, Mallikarjun Kharge and the Congress chief’s daughter Priyanka Gandhi were already present at the court complex. As they alighted from their vehicles and walked towards the court, Sonia smiled while Priyanka waved at the Congress supporters who had gathered outside Patiala House complex. A battery of eminent advocates led by senior Congress leaders Kapil Sibbal and Singhvi, representing the Gandhis were present inside the court.
The Congress had earlier in the day said that applying for bail was one of the many options for the party. Speaking to reporters, Congress spokesperson and senior advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi, who is representing the Gandhis, said: “We have full faith in the judiciary and all options, including bail and exemption (from future hearings) are open for us.” The Gandhis were summoned by a trial court on Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Subramanian Swamy’s complaint in which he accused the Gandhis of “cheating” in the acquisition of Associated Journals Limited (AJL), which published the National Herald newspaper, by Young Indian Limited, a firm in which Sonia and Rahul Gandhi each own a 38 per cent stake. The Delhi High Court on December 7 had dismissed a plea by the Gandhis to quash the summons issued to them for personal appearance before the trial court in the case.
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