Subramanian Swamy Opposes Rahul Gandhi’s Plea For Issuance Of Fresh Passport

Senior politician and BJP leader, Subramanian Swamy has opposed a plea filed by Congress leader Rahul Gandhi seeking issuance of a fresh passport.

The plea has been filed before a Delhi court.

Appearing before the Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Vaibhav Mehta, Gandhi's counsel Tarannum Cheema said that he can be granted a no-objection certificate.

The court noted that in the order granting to bail to Gandhi, no restrictions were imposed.

However the court was also of the view that Swamy has the right to file a reply to Gandhi's plea. The case has been listed for May 26.

Swamy contended that if Rahul Gandhi is allowed to travel abroad, it may hamper the probe in the National Herald case. The case pertains to the assignment of a Rs 90 crore loan advanced by the Congress party to the Associated Journals Ltd.

In his private complaint Swamy had accused Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi, Motilal Vohra, Oscar Fernandes, Suman Dubey, Sam Pitroda and the Gandhi family controlled Aung Indian of cheating, criminal conspiracy, criminal breach of trust and misappropriation of property.

Rahul Gandhi approached the court after surrendering his diplomatic passport due to his disqualification as Member of Parliament in a defamation case. In a speech Gandhi had likened Prime Minister Narendra Modi with fugitives like Nirav and Lalit Modi. "Nirav Modi, Lalit Modi, Narendra Modi. How come all the thieves have 'Modi' as a common surname," he had said.

The matter was taken to court by Purnesh Modi, a former BJP MLA. He had taken exception to the said speech and said that Gandhi had humiliated and defamed people with the Modi surname.

After a sessions court refused to stay the conviction, the matter was taken to the High Court and the same is still pending.