NOTICE TO SONIA GANDHI, RAHUL IN HERALD CASE

NEW DELHI: A Delhi court on Saturday sought the response of Congress president Sonia Gandhi, vice-president Rahul Gandhi and four other party leaders on a fresh plea of BJP leader Subramanian Swamy seeking certain documents from the party and Associated Journals Ltd (AJL) in connection with the National Herald case.

Sonia and Rahul Gandhi, party leaders Motilal Vora, Oscar Fernandes, Suman Dubey and Sam Pitroda, and Young Indian Pvt Ltd (YIL) are accused in the case.

The BJP leader had alleged “cheating” in the acquisition of AJL, publisher of National Herald, by YIL — a firm in which Sonia and Rahul each own a 38% stake.

Started in 1938, National Herald’s circulation and financial health deteriorated over decades, leading to its closure in 2008 with a debt of ₹90 crore on its head.

Swamy accused the Congress of loaning this money to AJL and then assigning the debt to YIL for ₹50 lakh — a transaction he said amounted to cheating. The accused have denied the allegations.

In his application, Swamy has sought documents relating to the loan given by the Congress to the AJL saying these were necessary for the purposes of trial in the case.

The next hearing of the case is on October 4.