A court in Delhi has asked top Congress party leaders Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi for their side of the story on a new issue in the National Herald case. This case has been going on for many years. The court acted after politician Subramanian Swamy asked to add some papers as proof in the case. This puts the spotlight back on a legal fight involving the Gandhi family and an old newspaper company.
Delhi Court Seeks Response from Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi in National Herald Case
The judge didn’t make a final decision yet. Instead, the court sent out official papers called notices. These notices tell Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi, and others involved that they need to respond to Mr. Swamy’s request. Mr. Swamy, who is from the BJP party, wants to show the court some documents he thinks are important evidence. The court wants to hear what the Gandhis and others think before deciding if the documents can be used.
What is National Herald Case Case About?
The case is about a company named Associated Journals Limited, or AJL. This company used to print the National Herald newspaper many years ago. AJL owned some very valuable land and buildings in big cities. But the company also owed a lot of money, including a large amount to the Congress party.
Then, a new company called Young Indian Private Limited (YIL) was started in 2010. Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi owned large parts of YIL. Mr. Swamy says that YIL took control of all of AJL’s valuable property. He claims YIL did this by paying only a very small amount of money to take over the debt AJL owed to the Congress party. He believes this was not fair and that the property was worth much, much more.
What Mr. Swamy Claims in National Herald Case
Mr. Swamy first brought this case to court in 2012. He says the way YIL took over AJL was a trick to cheat and grab the expensive properties. He has called it a “fraudulent deal.” He believes the leaders involved misused their power and position. Besides the Gandhis, other Congress leaders like Motilal Vora and Oscar Fernandes (who have since passed away), Suman Dubey, and Sam Pitroda were also named by Mr. Swamy.
What the Congress Party Says in National Herald Case
The Congress party and its leaders strongly disagree with Mr. Swamy. They say they did nothing wrong. They explain that YIL was set up as a company that would not make profits for itself. Its goal, they say, was to help pay off AJL’s debts and try to start the National Herald newspaper again. They insist that no one, including Sonia or Rahul Gandhi, made any personal money from this.
Congress leaders often say the case is “political vendetta.” This means they believe the case is just an attack by their political rivals, like Mr. Swamy and the BJP, to make them look bad. A party member might say, “This is just politics, there was no crime.”
Other Things to Know in National Herald Case
This isn’t the only investigation. Another government group, the Enforcement Directorate (ED), which looks into money crimes, has also been checking this case. The ED has asked Sonia and Rahul Gandhi questions about it before. Also, back in 2015, the Gandhis had to go to court for this case and were given bail, which means they didn’t have to stay in jail while the case continued.
What Happens Next in National Herald Case?
Now that the court has sent the notices, lawyers for Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi, and the others will prepare their answers. They will tell the court why they think Mr. Swamy’s documents should or shouldn’t be allowed. After hearing from both sides, the judge will make a decision. This step shows the National Herald case is still active and remains an important legal issue for the Congress leaders.
