National Herald case: Court judgment no setback, will pursue legal options, says Congress

New Delhi, Dec 7: The Congress on Monday said the Delhi High Court's rejection of the pleas of party chief Sonia Gandhi and vice chief Rahul Gandhi in the National Herald case was "not a setback" and the party will pursue the matter at the appropriate legal forum.

The party's communications department in charge Randeep Singh Surjewala said in a statement that the party has faced many such cases "sponsored by its political opponents" in its long political journey.

"Congress does not view the judgment pronounced by Hon'ble Delhi High Court today in National Herald case as a setback as is being represented in a section of the media. Based on legal advice, we shall pursue the matter at an appropriate legal forum so that lies of BJP and its dirty tricks department are exposed in the public domain," he said.

The Delhi High Court on Monday dismissed the Gandhis' plea seeking to quash summons issued to them by a trial court on BJP leader Subramanian Swamy's complaint in the National Herald case.

Justice Sunil Gaur dismissed their pleas which means they will have to appear before the trial court in the case.

Apart from the Gandhis, the court also dismissed the pleas of Congress treasurer Motilal Vora, family friend Suman Dubey and party leader Oscar Fernandes who too had sought quashing of summons issued against them.

On June 26, the trial court issued summons to the Congress leaders on Swamy's complaint about "cheating" in the acquisition of Associated Journals Ltd. (AJL) by Young India Ltd. (YIL) - "a firm in which Sonia and Rahul Gandhi each own a 38 percent stake".

IANS