Congress president Sonia Gandhi and party vice-president Rahul Gandhi have got bail on personal bonds of Rs 50,000 each in connection with the National Herald case. All the other accused have also received bail in the case without any conditions. The next hearing in the case is scheduled for February 20, 2 pm.
LIVE updates:
* When we say Congress-free India, we mean corruption-free: Union Minister Naqvi
* Congress and corruption are made for each other: Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi
* Senior BJP leader Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi addresses media over National Herald Case
* Congress will give a determined fight, says Manmohan Singh
* We stand on certain values and principles that no one is going to change: Says former PM Manmohan Singh
* Modi-ji makes false allegations and he thinks the opposition will bend. I will not bend, Congress won’t bend, says Rahul Gandhi.
WATCH: ‘Modi ji is falsely accusing us,we will keep fighting for poor,not move back an inch’ says Rahul Gandhi https://t.co/kQXC5DLnt8
— ANI (@ANI_news) December 19, 2015
* Modi Govt has been trying to level false charges against us and we will fight all in the court and as per law of land: Rahul Gandhi.
WATCH: ‘Inke khilaaf humari ladaai jaari rahegi’ says Sonia Gandhi on Central Govt #nationalherald https://t.co/NP59a95wB2
— ANI (@ANI_news) December 19, 2015
*Today we did what any law-abiding citizen should do. The laws applies to everyone. I have no doubt that the truth will come out, says Sonia after being granted bail.
* We respect Law and went to court, I am sure, truth will prevail, Sonia Gandhi.
*Gandhis will be present again on February 20, we have not yet asked for any exemptions: Kapil Sibal
* Subramanian Swamy asked for travel restrictions to be placed on the accused but the judge declined that: Kapil Sibal.
Court declines exemption from appearance and make all accused take bail at RS 50000 bond. Accused complied. Judge did not agree on travel
— Subramanian Swamy (@Swamy39) December 19, 2015
*Ajay Maken took surety for Motilal Vora, Mallikarjun Kharge for Suman Dubey and Ghulam Nabi Azad took surety for Oscar Fernandes.
*Court fixes next hearing on Feb 20, 2016.
*Patiala House Court grant bail to Rahul and Sonia Gandhi on personal bond of Rs 50, 000 and personal surety. Priyanka Gandhi Signs surety for Rahul Gandhi and Former PM Manmohan Singh signs surety for Congress President SOnia Gandhi.
#BREAKING #NationalHerald | #RahulGandhi returns from #PatialaHouseCourt after getting bail https://t.co/hhZkhsOS3v pic.twitter.com/sM955R3kHZ
— News World India (@NewsWorldIN) December 19, 2015
* Subramanian Swamy demands bailable warrant against Sam Pitroda for non appearance,also opposes bail for Gandhis
*Court proceeding started, Kapil Sibal has started the arguments for Congress Party
*Congress President Sonia Gandhi and VP Rahul Gandhi reach Patiala House court. Both leaders got down at main road and entered the court through gate number 3. Metropolitan Magistrate Lovleen to hear the case.
#BREAKING #LIVE | #NationalHerald Case: Sonia, #RahulGandhi Reach #PatialaHouseCourt https://t.co/hhZkhsOS3v Pic:ANI pic.twitter.com/9EXLuBlcTS
— News World India (@NewsWorldIN) December 19, 2015
*Former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh reached court.
* Priyanka Gandhi Vadra along with Ghulam Nabi Azad reached Patiala House Court.
Priyanka Gandhi Vadra at Patiala House Court #NationalHerald pic.twitter.com/D1jaHEfy5W
— ANI (@ANI_news) December 19, 2015
* Subramanian Swamy and his wife Roxna Swamy reached Patiala House Court
* Priyanka Gandhi Vadra reached Ghulam Nabi Azad’s residence
* It is clear that CBI and ED are being misused to target the Congress: Sachin Pilot
* Subramanian Swamy is a stooge of Prime Minister Narendra Modi: RS Surjewala
* BJP’s slogan for now is ‘Vipaksh Mukt Bharat’ (Opposition free India): Ghulam Nabi Azad
* Congress to hold final strategy meet at 1:30 pm at Ghulam Nabi Azad’s residence
* Govt has no role, if Rahul Gandhi has a problem then he should approach Supreme Court: Union Minister RS Prasad
* Politics of vendetta and desperate malicious attempts of defamation will not be believed: Robert Vadra
* Shirtless demonstration by Congress workers in Bengaluru
* Robert Vadra and Priyanka Gandhi likely to be at Patiala house court
* This is no tamasha or game. We will proceed to court in a serious and dignified manner: Abhishek Manu Singhvi
* Party workers gather at Congress headquarters
* Sonia, Rahul set to appear in the Patiala House Court at around 3:00 pm
* Security beefed up around the Patiala House court
* We have complete respect for the judicial process, will fight the legal battle in accordance with law: RS Surjewala
The two leaders were also keen that party leaders and supporters from other states did not throng the capital on Saturday, the sources added.
Party sources said suggestions on senior state party leaders trooping into Delhi to coincide with the court appearance of the two were turned down by the top brass as it would have led to public inconvenience and traffic snarls and given an opportunity to political rivals to hit out at the party.
There was apprehension that a large gathering could be dubbed by Congress rivals as an effort to influence the judiciary, party sources observed.
However, the Congress has directed its MPs in the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha to stay put in the national capital during the weekend.
Party leaders sought to delink instructions to MPs to stay back from the National Herald case.
There were reports earlier that all Congress chief ministers and leaders of legislative parties in the states will come to Delhi on Saturday. There were also reports that Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi may not seek bail though party leaders gave firm indications that bail will be sought.
Party leader Randeep Singh Surjewala said all legal options were open to the party, including applying for bail. Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad too spoke in a similar vein on Thursday.
“The Congress president and vice president have full faith in the judiciary and full faith in the law of the land. Whatever we shall have to do as per the law, we will do,” Azad said.
Congress sources however said party leaders may converge at party’s central office at 24, Akbar Road, on their own to express solidarity with two top party leaders.
Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi will appear in the trial court here on December 19 in connection with BJP leader Subramanian Swamy’s complaint in the National Herald case.
The Delhi High Court this month dismissed a plea of the Gandhis to quash the summons issued to them for personal appearance by a trial court in the case.
The trial court later asked them to appear before it on December 19.
On June 26 last year, the trial court issued summons to the Congress leaders on Swamy’s complaint about “cheating” in the acquisition of Associated Journals Ltd., which published the National Herald newspaper, by Young India Ltd., “a firm in which Sonia and Rahul Gandhi each own a 38 percent stake”.
(With IANS inputs)