The National Herald case is back on the front-page news as the Delhi High Court on Monday (22 February) sought the response of Congress chief Sonia Gandhi and her son Rahul Gandhi on a plea by BJP MP Subramanian Swamy seeking to lead evidence in the matter before the trial court.
Justice Suresh Kait, while issuing notice to the Gandhis, AICC general secretary Oscar Fernandes, Suman Dubey, Sam Pitroda and Young India (YI), sought their stand on Swamy’s plea by April 12.
Satya Sabharwal appeared as counsel for Swami, and advocate Tarannum Cheema, for the Gandhis and others. Both confirmed that the high court has issued a notice in the matter and stayed the trial court proceedings till 12 April.
Subramanian Swamy had filed a private criminal complaint in the trial court, accusing the Gandhis and others of conspiring to cheat and misappropriate funds.
According to Swami, Young Indian Pvt Ltd had ― by paying only ₹50 lakh ― obtained the right to recover ₹90.25 crore that Associate Journals Ltd, the owner of English daily National Herald, owed to Congress.
All the seven accused ― the Gandhis, AICC treasurer Motilal Vora, AICC general secretary Oscar Fernandes, Suman Dubey, Sam Pitroda and YI ― have denied the allegations.
It must be noted that the senior Congress leader Motilal Vora passed away a while back.
Click here to subscribe to The Commune on Telegram and get the best stories of the day delivered to you personally.