New Delhi: The Patiala House Court today granted bail to Congress president Sonia Gandhi and party vice president Rahul Gandhi in the National Herald case on a personal bond of Rs. 50,000 and one surety each.
The next hearing for the case has been fixed for February 20, 2016, at 2 PM. While A K Antony filed the surety for Sonia Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi filed it for Rahul.
Party's chief spokesman Randeep Surjewala on Friday said that they were open to all legal remedies and options including bail. "We are open to availing all legal remedies and options including bail."
Sonia and Rahul were summoned by the trial court on a private criminal complaint of BJP leader Subramanian Swamy of conspiracy, cheating, breach of trust and misappropriation of property.
Live Updates:
* Sonia, Rahul leave court premises. Proceedings in the court in the case end for today.
* Court grants bail to Sonia, Rahul Gandhi; personal bond of Rs 50,000 and one surety each was fixed by court as bail conditions.
* Kapil Sibal begins arguments in the case. Sonia and Rahul Gandhi standing in courtroom
* Court proceedings begin in the National Herald case
* Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi reach Patiala House court; Sonia waves to supporters before entering court premises
* Former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh likely to stand surety for Congress President Sonia Gandhi, Ahmad Patel for Rahul: sources
* Priyanka Gandhi reaches court premises. Senior Congress leaders including Manmohan SIngh, Ashwani Kumar, Ghulam Nabi Azad, Ambika Soni, Ahmad Patel also reach court
* They have six high price senior lawyers, so why are they scared?: Subramanian Swamy
* All this drama being done by the Congress is giving country a bad name: Subramanian Swamy
* Priyanka Gandhi Vadra reaches Ghulam Nabi Azad's residence
* Congress MLA VS Rathore to represent Sam Pitroda in court today. Pitroda is unwell and undergoing treatment in USA
* It is clear that CBI and ED are being misused to target the Congress: Sachin Pilot
* This is not one instance,there is a pattern of political vendetta against Congress: Kamal Nath
* Congress supporters sign with ink and make a thumb print with blood in support of Rahul Gandhi in Bhubaneswar
* Subramanian Swamy is a stooge of PM Modi, saying it with a sense of responsibility: Randeep Singh Surjewala
* During elections, BJP's slogan was Cong Mukt Bharat, after coming to power,now it is "Vipaksh Mukta Bharat"-GN Azad
* We have faith in Judiciary and in law of the country, we will get justice-Ghulam Nabi Azad, Congress
* 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 will prevail: Robert Vadra
* Robert Vadra, Priyanka to accompany Sonia and Rahul to Patiala House Court
* They (Sonia and Rahul) will apeear today. Bail bond is a routine thing: KC Mittal, Congress legal cell
* Government has no role, if Rahul Gandhi has a problem then he should approach SC: Ravi Shankar Prasad, Union Minister
* Congress supporters gather outside Congress HQ in Delhi
* Fully confident that we will be able to put forth our point of view in the court to the best of our capacity: Ashwani Kumar, Congress leader
* It is political vendetta led by Narendra Modi, Subramanian Swamy is only a small cog in this wheel of conspiracy: Surjewala
* Sonia ji & Rahul ji have always walked on the path of truth & truth will prevail: Randeep Surjewala, Congress
* Congress supporters gather near Teen Murti in New Delhi
* BJP, RSS have considered Gandhi family as biggest threat: Digvijaya Singh
* National Herald example of vilification campaign against Congress: Digvijaya Singh, Congress
* It is a matter for the courts, what has the Government got to do with it?: Nitin Gadkari
* We've heard Sonia Gandhiji's statement this morning. She is awfully wrong. Media doesn't decide as to who's right or wrong: Nirmala Sitharaman
* We don't understand what has suddenly happened to Congress. They are not letting the House function: Venkaiah Naidu
* Sarkaar samvidhaan ke anusar chal rahi hai, kisiko darne ki zaroorat nahi hai: Venkaiah Naidu
* We have faith in judiciary, all legal options including bail are available: Singhvi
* We made it clear that each accused is extremely keen and willing to appear before the magistrate court at the earliest possible date: Singhvi
* Ruling party in power using proxy litigation to attack senior Congress persons out of political malice: Abhishek Manu Singhvi
* The magistrate Gomti Manoja went into every document. She had independent witnesses. She subjected me to examination thoroughly for 15 months, she considered my complaint and then she issued it...all during the UPA period: Swamy
* Due process of law will begin. If they want to try their luck in the Supreme Court, I think they have very little chance, because two courts have held that there is a prima facie case. So, the Supreme Court would not like to intervene with the trial process: Swamy.
* Why should I be scared of anyone? I am Indira Gandhi's daughter-in-law, I am not scared of anyone: Sonia Gandhi
* I leave it on you to judge: Sonia Gandhi replied to a question if it is a political vendetta
* Subramanian Swamy and Congress leader Abhishek Manu Singhvi reach Patiala House Court in Delhi
* From Virbhadra Singh during wedding ceremony of his children through to Mr. Chidambaram and to many other examples: Singhvi
* This has been filed directly by a BJP member, both the party he belongs to and himself have a long history of personal antagonism: Singhvi
* We have an unassailable extremely strong case. This is nothing but political vendetta. We have seen it in a series of cases: Abhishek Manu Singhvi, Congress
Surjewala also dismissed reports that the Congress has called its state leaders to Delhi when the Gandhis will appear before the court.
Also Read: Congress alters strategy in National Herald case
He said that the Congress leadership does not want the court process to be interfered with or influenced in any manner and so the party has asked workers not to come to the court.
Also the Congress wanted, he said, it to be a low key affair.
Senior advocate and party spokesman, Abhishek Singhvi, who is representing the Gandhis, said, "Unnecessary hype over a routine procedure need not be created by the media. We are proceeding in every manner in accordance with law. We have been scrupulously avoiding all hype or hoopla about this as far as courts are concerned."
Meanwhile, the party has asked its MPs to gather at the party headquarters today ahead of the appearance of the Gandhis in the court as a measure of solidarity.
What is National Herald case?
The National Herald newspaper was closely associated with India's freedom struggle and the Indian National Congress till 2008. In January 2008, discussions about its closure began. On 1 April 2008, the paper's editorial announced that it was temporarily suspending operations. Before its closure, the paper was being run by Associated Journals Limited (AJL).
Swamy filed the case in a local court in 2012. The trial court then issued summons to the two leaders among others in June 2014, but they approached the Delhi High Court seeking a stay. On Monday this week, the High Court refused to stay the summons, and asked all of the accused to appear for a hearing on December 19.
The accused face allegations that they illegally acquired property worth Rs 5,000 crore belonging to the National Herald newspaper.
Security beefed up at Patiala House
Security was beefed up on Friday at the Patiala House District Court premises in New Delhi ahead of the scheduled appearance of Sonia and her son Rahul.
According to court sources, senior officials of the Special Protection Group (SPG), Delhi Police and Intelligence Bureau reviewed the security arrangements at the court premises where 16 more CCTV cameras were installed.
Sources said security personnel have discussed at length the arrangements to be made for today as both Sonia and Rahul are SPG protectees. The security officials have also had a meeting with the District Judge of the Patiala House courts.
The police have made elaborate security arrangements considering the fact that the court is a public place where a number of lawyers, litigants come daily.
The sources said that shops inside the premises will remain closed today and the area near gate number two of the court, where the courtroom in which the hearing is scheduled is located, will be cordoned off with deployment of a multi-layered security cover.
(With Agency Inputs)
