New Delhi: Congress president Sonia Gandhi refused to comment on whether she would apply for bail on Saturday in the National Herald case. Both Sonia and her son Rahul Gandhi, who is also the Congress vice president and Lok Sabha MP from Amethi, will be appearing in a Delhi court in connection with the case.
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Subramnian Swamy, who is leading the charge against the Gandhis, has already sharpened his attack on the mother-son duo.
Congress is planning a massive show of strength at around 1 PM before the case comes up for hearing. All Congress MPs have been asked to assemble at the Congress headquarters for the protest.
Sonia, Rahul and five other accused in the case had challenged the summons issued to them but were directed to appear in court on December 19.
The five other accused are Suman Dubey, Moti Lal Vohra, Oscar Fernandez, Sam Pitroda and Young India Ltd. All the accused had challenged the summons issued to them by a trial court on a complaint by Swamy against them for alleged cheating and misappropriation of funds in taking control of the now-defunct daily.
The summons were issued on a criminal complaint lodged by Swamy for alleged cheating and misappropriation of funds in acquiring ownership of now-defunct daily National Herald.
The Congress had allegedly loaned Rs 90.25 crore to Associated Journals Ltd. (AJL), publisher of National Herald, and on December 28, 2010 it had assigned this debt to Young Indian Ltd (YIL), the charitable company, for Rs 50 lakh, which, according to Swamy, amounted to breach of trust and cheating.
Chronology:
January 2013: National Herald case filed by BJP leader Subramanian Swamy against Sonia and Rahul Gandhi, their companies and associated persons in a Delhi court.
June 26, 2014: Gandhis summoned as accused by a Delhi court in the criminal complaint for alleged cheating and misappropriation of funds in acquiring ownership of now-defunct daily National Herald.
August 1, 2014: Delhi HC issues notice to Swamy on a batch of petitions filed by Gandhis and others in the case seeking stay on summons issued for August 7.
August 6, 2014: HC stays proceedings against Gandhis and others in the case.
December 15, 2014: HC extends stay till disposal of the appeals.
January 12, 2015: Judge recuses from hearing Sonia and Rahul's plea.
January 27, 2015: Supreme Court asks Swamy to make out a case for speedy trial in HC since petition cannot be heard directly.
December 4, 2015: HC reserves order on pleas.
December 7, 2015: HC refuses to quash lower court's summons to Sonia and Rahul Gandhi in the case.
Under procedures, once an accused has been summoned, he or she has to appear before it and seek bail which the court may grant. Otherwise, they can be taken into judicial custody. If the accused does not apply for bail, the court can take the accused in the judicial custody.
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