New Delhi: The Delhi high court on Wednesday stayed criminal proceedings against Congress President Sonia Gandhi and Vice-President Rahul Gandhi till August 13 in the National Herald case.
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The petition was filed by Congress President Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi against the summons issued to them for allegedly cheating and misappropriating funds of a company that published the now defunct National Herald newspaper. Justice V P Vaish sought response from Swamy and the Delhi government by August 5.
A trial court had on June 26 issued summons to the Gandhis and four others — Congress treasurer Moti Lal Vora, general secretary Oscar Fernandes and Young Indian Private Ltd. (a firm in which the Gandhis have a stake) directors Suman Dubey and Sam Pitroda — asking them to appear before it on August 7.
Vora also approached the high court along with the Gandhis, who each own a 38% stake in the firm, seeking quashing of summons of the trial court and the complaint filed by BJP leader Swamy.
Filing the plea, Congress leaders said Swamy is a political opponent and present criminal proceedings have been initiated only with intent to secure an oblique political objective.
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