 "Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi arrive at Patiala House court for National Herald case hearing")
A Delhi court on Friday granted unconditional bail to all six accused, including Congress party president Sonia Gandhi and vice president Rahul Gandhi, in what has come to be known tthe y, National Herald case. Sam Pitroda was the only accused not present, as he is abroad.
The Gandhis’ court appearance in the case, which had become a political hot potato with the Congress party alleging political vendetta, was as brief as it was eventful. It took a metropolitan magistrate only minutes before agreeing to grant them bail on a personal bond of Rs 50,000 each and one surety each.
While Congress leader A K Anthony stood surety for Mrs Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi's surety was provided by sister Priyanka Gandhi.
Early into the hearing, complainant Subramanian Swamy asked the court to deny bail on grounds that the Gandhis were likely to leave the country, an argument the court did not accept.
The case, however, is far from over. The next hearing is set for February 20, 2016 at 2:00 p.m. Interestingly, the Congress party claimed that the Gandhis did not asked for any exemption from a personal appearance in that hearing, either; Swamy, however, said the court had denied any exemption to the accused. Nonetheless, what is given is that the images of protests by Congress workers seen nationwide today, are almost certain be repeated two months down the line.
Addressing the media later at the Congress party headquarters, both Sonia and Rahul Gandhi struck a combative pose, saying they would not be cowed by the politics of vendetta and intimidation.
"The current government is using all official agencies to go after the opposition," Congress party president Sonia Gandhi said. "We will continue our fight for Congress principles and for the rights of the poor."
In much the same vein, and continuing with his recently-discovered aggressiveness, Rahul Gandhi took on Prime Minister Narendra Modi directly, accusing him of making false allegations against the opposition.
"Modiji makes false allegations and thinks India will bow down. I want to tell every citizen of India that neither I nor the Congress Party will ever bow down," he said. "We will continue to play the role of opposition, neither I nor the Congress will back down even an inch."
Meanwhile, Subramanian Swamy, who has become a sort of bete-noire for the Gandhi family, expressed confidence that he would 'win the case in 2016' and that the Gandhis would be convicted as his case was 'based on documents and not witnesses'.
Meanwhile, Subramanian Swamy, who has become a sort of bete-noire for the Gandhi family, expressed confidence that he would 'win the case in 2016' and that the Gandhis would be convicted as his case was 'based on documents and not witnesses'.
