National Herald case: Sonia, Rahul Gandhi immediately get bail; next hearing on February 20
Under the aegis of the Special Protection Group, the Delhi police have been conducting thorough security checks inside and outside the court premises.
Congress' top leaders – president Sonia Gandhi and vice-president Rahul – are all set to appear before the Patiala House district court here in connection with the National Herald case on Saturday. But they are not willing to reveal their cards fully, on whether Rahul will be applying for bail or will prefer to go to jail.The case, filed by BJP leader Subramanian Swamy, accuses the Gandhis and four others of forming a company with the intention of acquiring property belonging to the now defunct newspaper National Herald that was founded by Jawaharlal Nehru. The seventh entity summoned in the case is Young Indian, the company formed by them, in which the Gandhis own 76% shares.Both the Gandhis have aggressively countered the allegations against them as political vendetta. They will be the fourth and fifth generation of the Nehru-Gandhi dynasty to appear before a court of law after Motilal Nehru, Jawaharlal Nehru and Indira Gandhi.
Though the party has rubbished media reports that it would organise a 'solidarity march' to court on Saturday, all its MPs are staying back in the capital.
AICC general secretary and Congress MP Janardan Dwivedi, however, stated the Congress has no intentions to protest against judiciary and that's why he has asked PCC chiefs not to come to the AICC headquarters. However, Congress MPs in the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha say they have been asked to assemble at the party headquarters on 24, Akbar Road, by 1 pm. The court hearing on the case is scheduled at 3 pm.Party general secretary Digvijay Singh, said the party leadership will decide only Saturday morning if party MPs and office-bearers will march from AICC headquarters to Patiala House Court along with Sonia and Rahul
Tight securityUnder the aegis of the Special Protection Group, the Delhi police have been conducting thorough security checks inside and outside the court premises. The distance from 10, Janpath – Sonia Gandhi's residence – to the court is a mere 3.3 kms – a journey that can be covered in under 10 minutes – though the route will see heavy police presence and almost 16 additional CCTV cameras.The setting of the courtroom drama is No.4, Judge Loveleen's chambers – a room small enough to hold barely 10-15 people.To counter the anticipated media rush, passes were issued only to a few print media and agency reporters.
Latest Updates
Rahul said that the Congress would not let the BJP achieve its aim of creating a 'Congress-mukt Bharat'.
Subramanian Swamy denies he has been in touch with PM Modi over the issue. He calls the case an open and shut case.
Sonia Gandhi, speaking to the media, claimed that the Modi government was on a witch hunt against the Gandhis. She said that the 'truth will come out' and claimed that she had gone to court like a common citizen with a clean conscience.
Rahul Gandhi supported his mother's words. He targeted PM Modi directly, and bizarrely invoked the idea that the Congress would continue to fight for the poor and downtrodden.
Former PM Manmohan Singh backed the Gandhis.
Bail has been granted to both Sonia and Rahul Gandhi on a personal bond of Rs 50,000 each. Former PM Manmohan Singh stands as surety for Sonia Gandhi.
Next hearing of the court will be held on February 20. The hearing lasted just 5 minutes. The court rejected Swamy's argument that the family's passports should be held back. No other questions were asked.
Arguments have begun in the Patiala House court. Kapil Sibal has begun his arguments.
Lawyers inside the court are now raising slogans in support of Rahul and Sonia Gandhi.
Sonia and Rahul Gandhi have reached Patiala House court.
Former PM Manmohan Singh, Sheila Dixit and many other Congress leaders have also reached the Patiala House court.
NDTV reports say that Manmohan Singh will furnish a bail bond for Sonia Gandhi if required. Ahmed Patel will furnish the bail bond for Rahul Gandhi.
Subramanian Swamy has arrived in court, calls Gandhis cowards.
Kapil Sibal, Abhishek Singhvi and Ahmed Patel have arrived at the Patiala court. Robert and Priyanka Vadra will also be present.
Randeep Surjewala continues his tirade against BJP and Modi.
This is perhaps taking the issue very far.
A meeting is soon to begin at Ghulam Nabi Azad's residence.
Ghulam Nabi Azad alleges that the Modi government has rewarded Subramanian Swamy for his actions.
Meanwhile, Ghulam Nabi Azad addressing the press said, "Subramanian Swamy has been given Z+ security, govt accommodation as a gift for succeeding in dragging the Congress leadership to court. We have faith in judiciary and in the law of the country, we will get justice."
Robert Vadra in a Facebook post has fully backed Sonia and Rahul Gandhi.
My full support to my mother in law and brother in law. Politics of vendetta and desperate malicious attempts of defamation, will not be believed ...Truth shall prevail.
Posted by Robert Vadra on Friday, 18 December 2015Congress workers seem to be extremely agitated all around the country. They are now holding a shirtless protest in Bengaluru.
Anti-Modi posters have also gone up.
Rahul Gandhi has left from his residence and reached 10 Janpath.
Meanwhile, BS Yedyurappa of BJP has alleged that Congress is against progress of India, hence they are behaving in this disruptive fashion.
Rajiv Pratap Rudy has a similar opinion.
Abhishek Manu Singhvi assured the media that the Congress procession to court would be peaceful and expressed faith in the judiciary.
Congress workers and supporters have gathered outside the party HQ in Delhi.
But a Congress workers' protest in Bhopal has been shut down by the police.
Surjewala then went on to allege a malicious agenda.
Ashwani Kumar hoped the Congress would be able to put up a good defence in court.
He also rubbished allegations that Congress was disrupting Parliament only over the National Herald case.
BJP leader GVL Narasimha Rao has slammed the Congress.
Rao added that the Congress was behaving as if Sonia and Rahul were above the system.
However, Congress spokesperson Randeep Surjewala had a different opinion.
Digvijay Singh has fired the first salvo by slamming the BJP and RSS, even as Sonia and Rahul are set to appear in court today.
Here's a glimpse of the security outside court.