Sonia Gandhi, the Congress president, and her son Rahul, the party vice president, had tried for months to avoid appearing in court in this case, which has been pursued doggedly by Subramanian Swamy, a leader of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
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Manmohan Singh, Sonia Gandhi’s daughter Priyanka Vadra, former Delhi chief minister Sheila Dikshit, Ghulam Nabi Azad, Mallikarjun Kharge, Rajiv Shukla, Ajay Maken, Kumari Selja and A.K. Antony were already present in the court room to express solidarity when the Congress chief entered the court.
Known for his wit and one-upmanship, Swamy tried to turn the tide against the Gandhis once again, who he claimed would be behind bars after the next hearing once he leads the evidence before the court.
“The lawyers of the Gandhis put forward their ready-made application for bail which was granted rejecting my plea that they should not be allowed to walk free as they have the habit of disappearing from the country off and on”, Mr Swamy said.
The courtroom will subsequent hear the case on February 20.
Sonia and Rahul Gandhi made a political point as they arrived in court today, choosing not to use a special gate set aside for their cars to drive in.
Congress party leaders blamed Modi for unleashing a political vendetta against the mother-son duo, saying he was trying to snuff out those opposed to him since his election in 2014.
Facing a private criminal complaint lodged by BJP leader Subramanian Swamy in the transfer of shares of the defunct party newspaper, Herald, to a newly-created company, the two Gandhis, accompanied by a phalanx of leaders, including former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Priyanka Gandhi, appeared before Metropolitan Magistrate Lovleen at 2.50 pm.
Swamy rubbished the allegations, while BJP leader Muqtar Abbas Naqvi said his party had nothing to do with the case. “The truth will come out”, Sonia Gandhi said. Rahul Gandhi, who was with her, waved to the crowd that had gathered to have a glimpse of them. Motilal Vora and Oscar Fernandes too were appointed to the Young Indian board on the same day. “We are aware of the vicious campaigns and attacks of our political opponents”. He said that the Congress protest was aimed at shielding the mistakes committed by its leaders in the past.
The administration imposed section 144 in Sehore district, curtailing movement of people, as Yadav, along with a large number of Congress workers, staged a protest. 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. “We will give a determined fight because we stand for certain values and certain ideals and nobody can detract the Congress from that path”, he added.
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Rahul is also a grandson of slain Prime Minister Indira Gandhi.
