National Herald Case: Sonia, Rahul Get Bail, Next Hearing 20 Feb
Sonia and Rahul Gandhi will appear in court today. Follow the latest updates on the National Herald case here.
Sonia Gandhi addresses the media. She says, “I never had any doubt that truth will prevail”. She also said that the current government is making use of state agencies to target the opposition.
Following Sonia, party Vice-President Rahul Gandhi addresses the media. He begins with snubbing the prime minister.
“PM Modi is in the habit of levelling false allegations against us. But he will not succeed in silencing us.” Rahul says he and the Congress party will not give in.
After Sonia and Rahul, former PM Manmohan Singh also speaks with the media and says,
Don’t Need Anyone’s Support: Swamy
Sonia and Rahul Gandhi arrive at the AICC headquarters to address the media.
Meanwhile, Subramanian Swamy tells CNN-IBN that he has friends all over the country: the government and the bureaucracy but he does not need anyone to support him.
Subramanian Swamy tells CNN-IBN’s Bhupendra Chaubey:
“The main thing is that the maximum I could have got, is to get them [Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi] to deposit their passports. The judge made the remark that they are responsible people…I did say they have a habit of disappearing from the country. The judge and the court laughed. Kapil Sibal jokingly said that there won’t be a problem.”
Congress leader Kapil Sibal says to CNN-IBN that they haven’t yet sought exemption for Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi from appearing personally in court.
Next Hearing on 20 February
Kapil Sibal, counsel for the Gandhis said, “Dr Swamy argued that there must be a restriction on travel of Sonia and Rahul Gandhi but that was rejected by the judge”.
When Subramanian Swamy asked for travel restrictions, the judge responded said they are reputed persons with deep political grassroots and they wouldn’t flee.
The next hearing, Sibal said, will be at 2pm on February 20 and that they have not yet asked for any exemptions.
Abhishek Manu Singhvi says,
AK Antony signed the surety for Sonia Gandhi and Priyanka signed for Rahul Gandhi.
Ajay Maken took surety for Motilal Vora and Mallikarjun Kharge took surety for Suman Dubey.
Ghulam Nabi Azad took surety for Oscar Fernandes.
Sonia, Rahul Granted Bail
Minutes after Sonia and Rahul Gandhi appeared in court, they have been granted bail in the National Herald case.
The bail has been granted on a personal bond of Rs 50 thousand and one surety each for Sonia and Rahul Gandhi.
Sonia and Rahul Gandhi reach Patiala House Court. Sonia waves to the media as she walks by to enter the court.
Former PM Manmohan Singh is inside the courtroom.
Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi reaches Patiala House Court. His sister Priyanka Gandhi is at the court too along with top Congress leaders Ghulam Nabi Azad, Sheila Dikshit and Meira Kumar.
Priyanka Gandhi and top Congress leaders get off their vehicles and walk a certain distance, exploiting the media presence, it appears.
Former PM Manmohan Singh and Mallikarjun Kharge are also at the court.
Congress leaders’ strategy meet at Ghulam Nabi Azad’s residence ends. Congress leader Abhishek Manu Singhvi has arrived at the Patiala House Court.
Petitioner in the case, Subramanian Swamy has also arrived along with his wife Roxna.
One Last Attack Before Reaching Court?
Subramanian Swamy, petitioner in the case speaks for the first time since morning.
He says,
Strategy Meet at Azad’s House, Security Beefed Up
Congress party’s strategy meet is currently taking place at Ghulam Nabi Azad’s residence. Priyanka Gandhi is also present.
Meanwhile, this is what the three-tier security deployed outside Patiala House Court is looking like.
Delhi Police, Border Security Force and Rapid Action Force teams have been deployed in addition to the Special Protection Group.
There is a metal detection machine for baggage right outside the courtroom. Massive restrictions have been put in place for the media and other lawyers in the court premises.
Robert Vadra, Sonia Gandhi’s son-in-law and Priyanka’s husband, comes in support of the family. In a Facebook post Vadra said,
Congress Protests Across the Country
Congress party workers are out on the streets, protesting. Whether it is to show support to Rahul and Sonia or to slam the BJP, they are leaving no stone unturned.
Youth Congress leaders in Ambala burnt effigies of the prime minister on the Ambala- Chandigarh road.
Party workers in Delhi have gathered at the headquarters and those in Mumbai and Patna have also held protests.
Meanwhile, take a look at the one image that explains the entire timeline of the National Herald case.
On The Quint: HeraldGate: Sonia, Rahul Gandhi and the Controversy in One Image
Rahul Gandhi has left his residence for 10 Janpath which is the official residence of Sonia Gandhi. Both will be present at the Patiala House Court at 3pm today for the hearing.
Reports say Priyanka Gandhi and her husband Robert Vadra will also be present in the court.
Congress Wants No Drama but Supporters Gather, Protest
The Congress has lined up a battery of lawyers and that is expected, but television reports say huge crowds of supporters have turned up from Rahul and Sonia Gandhi’s constituencies, Amethi and Rae Bareli.
Congress party workers have gathered at the party headquarters and reports indicate that this would not have been happening without orders from the party’s top brass. This, despite senior leaders of the party saying that they do not want drama.
The Full-Faith-in-Judiciary Argument
Congress leaders have started defending the Gandhis aggressively, reiterating that Sonia and Rahul were not at fault. They have said that all legal options will be explored but refused to reveal the Congress’ strategy in court. They said, the party has faith in the judiciary and that Sonia and Rahul will come clean.
Senior party leader Abhishek Manu Singhvi has said that there will be no drama or tamasha and that the leaders will proceed to court. “There is the option of applying for bail but I’m not saying that is what we will do.”
Former law minister Ashwani Kumar spoke about Congress’ disruptions in the Parliament.
The day is finally here. Rahul Gandhi, Sonia Gandhi and other senior Congress members will appear before the Patiala House Court in Delhi in connection to the National Herald case.
Earlier, speculation was fueled by Congress ‘sources’ that Rahul would not seek bail if jail time was ordered by the court. Even Sonia had invoked her mother-in-law Indira Gandhi in an aggressive display of political rhetoric.
But, as the date for the hearing approached, the Congress leadership began to downplay the importance of the appearance.
Sonia, Rahul to Appear in Court Today, May Seek Bail
Sonia and Rahul could seek bail when they appear before a magistrate in the National Herald case, with the Congress insisting that they were open to all legal remedies and options.
Randeep Surjewala of the Congress party said that the leadership does not want the court process to be interfered with or influenced in any manner. The party has asked workers not to come to the court. Partymen claim that the Congress wants it to be a low-key affair. The All India Congress Committee has dismissed reports that the Congress has called its state leaders to Delhi when the Gandhis will appear before the court.
The party has been maintained so far that a decision would be taken in accordance with advice they receive from their lawyers. Senior advocate Abhishek Singhvi is representing the Gandhis.
Party General Secretary Shakeel Ahmed said the Congress would politically fight the Narendra Modi government on the issue as it was a “vendetta”. Congress MPs will gather at the party headquarters, in a show of solidarity.
Security Beefed Up at Patiala House Court
Security was beefed up on December 18, ahead of the scheduled appearance of Congress President Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi and others at the Patiala House District Court premises today. They will appear in court in connection with the National Herald case. According to court sources, senior officials of the Special Protection Group, Delhi Police and Intelligence Bureau reviewed the security arrangements at the court premises.
Land Leased to National Herald Encroached Upon
Following the reopening of the case, various things have come to light. A vast chunk of land leased to National Herald in Patna has allegedly been encroached and the Bihar revenue department will now look into the matter.
About 22 ‘kathas’ of land alloted to the newspaper in the heart of the state capital has been encroached and could never come in possession of the allottee, it is alleged.
Revenue Minister and Congress leader Madan Mohan Jha said the existing lease of the land originally allotted to National Herald is up to 2018.
Allegations Against the Gandhis
On September 19 this year, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) reopened the National Herald case against Congress Party President Sonia Gandhi and Vice President Rahul Gandhi.
BJP member Subramanian Swamy had filed a case against the the duo, accusing them of cheating and misappropriating funds in the acquisition of National Herald, a now-defunct newspaper.
Following Swamy’s allegations, the ED had summoned Sonia and Rahul Gandhi in June 2014.
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