Stay on summons against Sonia, Rahul Gandhi in Herald case extended

New Delhi, Oct 1: The Delhi High Court today extended till November 3 the trial court order summoning Congress President Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi and three others in a case relating to acquiring ownership of

daily.

Justice V P Vaish agreed to extend the interim order after counsel for Gandhis and others expressed their inability to conclude their arguments today.

Senior advocate Ramesh Gupta, representing one of those summoned, urged the court to take up the matter on a regular basis some other day because arguments are not likely to conclude today and holidays were beginning tomorrow.

While adjourning the matter, the court said that it will hear the case on a regular basis November 3 onwards. On being asked about Sam Pitroda, who was also summoned by the trial court, the counsel informed the court that the summoning order has not been received by him.

BJP leader Dr Subramanian Swamy, on whose complaint the trial court had issued summons to the Congress leaders, opposed the counsel's contention saying, "he (Pitroda) might have run away or is deliberately ignoring the summons order".

"If a person is a public servant and has deep roots in society then why is he not appearing before the court?" Swamy asked.

The high court had on September 3 fixed the case for final disposal on October 1.

Swamy, in his complaint, had alleged cheating and misappropriation of funds by the Congress leaders in the acquisition of the daily by Young Indian (YI).

Besides Sonia and Rahul, Congress Treasurer Moti Lal Vora, General Secretary Oscar Fernandes and Suman Dubey had moved the high court on July 30 against the trial court order summoning them in the case.

The trial court had on June 26 summoned Sonia, Rahul, Vora, Fernandes, Suman Dubey and Sam Pitroda to appear before it on August 7.

PTI