National Herald case: Court grants bail to Sonia and Rahul

Originally, a large number of activists and leaders of Puducherry Pradesh Congress Committee (PPCC) gathered here in front of the Head Post office to stage a demonstration to register their protest against the BJP-led NDA Government which allegedly indulged in intimidating tactics against Congress president Sonia Gandhi and its vice-president Rahul Gandhi.

“Bail was granted, the matter stands adjourned until February 20”, defence lawyer RS Cheema, who was inside the courtroom, told reporters. “We are well aware of the campaign of attacks and criticism that our political rivals follow”, Sonia Gandhi said at a press conference following the hearing. Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi going to court, itself sends a message that all are equal before law. Senior Congress leader AK Antony signed the surety for Sonia while Priyanka Gandhi Vadra did the same for Rahul. He said instead of organising protest on streets, the Congress leaders must prove their innocence in the court.

“The central government is misusing government agencies to target the opponents”.

Later, a delegation of Congress led by Sukkhu submitted a memorandum with the state government, accusing the Narendra Modi dispensation of “wreaking vengeance” on the opposition leaders, especially the leaders of Congress party. He also slammed the Congress MPs for stalling the Parliament on the issue.

The AAP in turn caused a storm by accusing Finance Minister Arun Jaitley of presiding over financial irregularities when he controlled the capital’s cricket association – a claim he vehemently denies. Congress chief Sonia Gandhi and her son and party vice president Rahul Gandhi appeared in a trial court here on Saturday in the case.

Calling the National Herald case “vendetta politics”, Congress leaders vowed to carry on the legal fight.

He accused them of illegally acquiring the now-defunct newspaper’s assets after buying its publisher through a new private company, Young Indian, using a loan from party funds.

The Gandhis along with the other accused in the National Herald case appeared before Metropolitan Magistrate Lovleen in response to summons issued against them. Before its closure, the paper was being run by Associated Journals Limited (AJL).

The National Herald was set up in 1938 by India’s first prime minister and Rahul Gandhi’s great-grandfather, Jawaharlal Nehru.