Sonia, Rahul get bail in National Herald case, attack Modi govt

15-MINUTE HEARING Delhi court asks Gandhis, 3 others to provide personal bond of ` 50,000 each

Congress president Sonia Gandhi and vice-president Rahul Gandhi were on Saturday granted bail by a Delhi court in a private criminal complaint case filed by BJP leader Subramanian Swamy alleging cheating and breach of trust in taking over Associated Journals Ltd, publisher of the now defunct National Herald newspaper.

Metropolitan magistrate Lovleen granted bail to the Gandhis and three other accused, Motilal Vora, Oscar Fernandes and Suman Dubey, on a personal bond of Rs 50,000 and a surety each in a hearing that lasted nearly 15 minutes. Sam Pitroda, another accused, was granted exemption from personal appearance on medical grounds.

The Gandhis arrived accompa-

nied by senior party leaders and alighted from their car about 200 metres from the court complex, completing the remaining journey on foot and waving at people along the way.

“I appeared before the court like any law- abiding citizen.

The truth will come out,” Sonia Gandhi told reporters at the Congress headquarters minutes after obtaining bail.

“The current government is targeting its rivals and we will continue to fight... Ye log hamein kabhi apne raaste se hata nahi paayenge, kendra sarkar jaan boojh kar hamein nishana bana rahi hai (these people will never be able to deter us from our path, the central government is targeting us on purpose),” she said.