National Herald case: HC stays summons against Sonia, Rahul

The Delhi High Court has on Monday extended the stay on the trial court order summoning Congress President Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi and 3 others in the National Herald case till the final disposal of their appeals against their summons.

Justice V P Vaish extended the interim order after lawyers appearing for the Gandhis and others sought adjournment in the matter.

However, the court fixed the matter for January 12, 2015, from which date it will hear the arguments on their appeals on "day-to-day basis".

"August 6 order (interim stay on trial court's direction) shall continue till final disposal of the petitions. The court will hear the matter on day-to-day basis from January 12. The appeals will be regularly heard by this court. The matter will be listed as item number 1," the judge said.

BJP leader Subramanian Swamy, however, opposed the petitioners move, saying "no excuse should be permitted to them (Sonia and others) from next date of hearing".

Swamy, in his complaint before the trial court, had alleged cheating and misappropriation of funds by the Congress leaders in the acquisition of the daily by Young Indian.

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, Dubey and Pitroda to appear before it on August 7.

Fresh summons against Pitroda, who has so far not filed an appeal in the high court, was issued on December 9.