Sonia, Rahul appear in court, granted bail; Congress lambasts Modi

Rahul and Sonia had sought and were granted bail in the National Herald case after the court in Delhi rejected complainant Subramanian Swamy’s opposition to relief for them on the ground that they are influential and can flee the country.

The two leading members of India’s Gandhi dynasty were forced to appear in court accused of corruption on Saturday, in a case at the centre of a major row between the country’s main political parties. Sonia Gandhi’s daughter Priyanka Gandhi Vadra was also there.

Union Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar mocked Gandhis over their comments, saying they have got bail not any medal or prize to celebrate.

The Congress leaders had gone to the High Court seeking a stay, but on December 14, the court refused to stay the summons and asked all the accused to appear for hearing on December 19. The BJP hit back, terming the Congress as closely linked with “corruption”. But, they were told by lawyers that even if the Supreme Court is to be moved, they will have to ultimately sign the bail bonds.

Congress leader A K Antony gave surety for Sonia Gandhi while Priyanka Gandhi gave surety for her brother Rahul.

Another accused Sam Pitroda, couldn’t make it to court because of illness and was granted exemption by the court. The next court date was set for February 20.

On June 26 previous 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.

Swamy described the scene inside the courtroom.

The Gandhis are accused of illegally acquiring the assets of the parent company of the National Herald, a newspaper once run by their family.

The government’s decision to give Swamy an official bungalow and accord him high-level security cover was pounced on by the Congress. They said that these actions underlined the fact that the BJP is using Swamy as a proxy in its battle against the Congress. “That’s the reason as to why ultimately both of them had to appear in front of the court”. “The laws of the land apply to everyone without fear or favour. The truth will come out”, Sonia Gandhi said.

“The current federal government is deliberately targeting its opposition”, Sonia Gandhi told reporters after the hearing. But we aren’t going to be afraid by them.

Asserting that Congress will continue to fight for the poor, Rahul said, “We will not budge an inch”. Rahul is also a grandson of slain Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. The Congress and I will not bend. “We won’t let that happen”. Party workers said there would be uproar if the court treated the pair harshly, which would back-fire on Modi.

In an exclusive interview on Aaj Tak’s Seedhi Baat, Swamy said, “I have not spoken to any BJP leader about the National Herald case and am fighting it in my personal capacity”.