Sonia, Rahul to appear before court on Saturday in Herald case

Congress chief Sonia Gandhi and Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi will appear in a Delhi court on Saturday in the National Herald case amid speculation that they may not apply for bail.

The party remained tightlipped on the course to be adopted by the two leaders when they appear before the court on Saturday afternoon.

Under procedures, once an accused has been summoned, he or she has to appear before it and seek bail which the court may grant. Otherwise, they can be taken into judicial custody.

If the accused does not apply for bail, the court can take the accused in the judicial custody. There was speculation that the Gandhis may not seek bail and prefer to be taken into custody so that they can make a political issue of the Herald matter.

Party's chief spokesman Randeep Surjewala said "we respect judicial process and we will submit ourselves to the majesty of the court process. The Congress president and the vice president have complete faith in the judicial process. They will be proceeding as per the advice by the lawyers".

Senior advocate Abhishek Singhvi, who had represented the Gandhis in the court, steered clear of questions whether the Gandhis would apply for bail. "We cannot share our  strategy. I have not spoken to anyone on the issue. I cannot speak on it".

Several senior party leaders, including CWC members and party General Secretaries and party MPs, would accompany the Gandhis to the court as a mark of solidarity.