National Herald case: Congress 'surprised' at HC order asking Sonia, Rahul to

They will have to appear in lower court.

The Delhi High Court today dismissed the petitions filed by Sonia Gandhi and other Congress leaders that had sought quashing of summons issued by the trial court in the controversial National Herald Case.

The court has reserved its verdict on the pleas, and now the Gandhis will have to appear before the trial court.

Responding to oral pleas by senior advocated Harin Raval, Justice Gaur said, "No". "The trial court is looking at the matter and Congress can not just dismiss as it does not suit them".

The Congress had loaned Rs 90.25 crore to the publisher of National Herald Associated Journals Ltd. On December 28, 2010, it had assigned this debt to charitable company Young India Ltd., in which some Congress members are directors, for Rs 50 lakh.

Interestingly, Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley has gone on record saying that the National Herald case against the Gandhis may come to an end if the Congress party returns the loans.

Denying Swamy's allegations, Sibal said there were no ingredients of cheating or breach of trust as these are offences committed against an individual and not against a person in general and since the BJP leader was not a victim he did not have the locus to file a complaint. "As such, where does the question of cheating arise?" said Singhvi, further adding that Congress party will fight the case as it has nothing to fear on legal grounds.

Swamy claimed that Sonia and Rahul Gandhi, as majority shareholders of YIL, benefited from the acquisition of AJL.

It also refused to extend the August 6, 2014 interim order by which the summons were stayed.

"Will not only challenge the order but also ask for a stay", said Singhvi.

Sonia and party Rahul were summoned in the case in June 2014 after Swamy had filed a complaint accusing them of cheating and misappropriation of funds in acquiring ownership of the now-defunct English daily National Herald.