Delhi court summons Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi in National Herald case

A Delhi court issued summons to Congress chief Sonia Gandhi and party vice-president Rahul Gandhi for 'misappropriating the funds' of the National Herald newspaper that was shut down some years ago.Metropolitian magistrate Gomati Manocha, while issuing the summons, said: "I have found prima facie evidence against all the accused. The court has directed them to appear before it August 7."The court has also ordered Oscar Fernandes and Motilal Vora to be present in the court on August 7.The court also issued summons to Sam Pitroda, former advisor to PM Manmohan Singh on public information, infrastructure and innovation, who also headed the National Innovation Council, a thinktank to analyse and help implement strategies for inclusive innovation during the UPA regime. Former journalist Suman Dubey, who is close to the Gandhi family, was also summoned by the court. The petition in the National Herald case was filed by BJP leader Subramanian Swamy.Speaking to reporters, Swamy said: "This is a fraud, criminal breach of trust as they have managed to misappropriate the fund of Rs 2,000 crore rupees." "It is important for the court to take the passports of Sonia Gandhi and her son Rahul Gandhi so that they do not run away from the country before the hearing in the court," added Swamy. The National Herald newspaper was established in 1938 by India's first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru. It was shut down in 2008Swamy earlier accused the Gandhis of diverting Congress party's funds to the family-controlled enterprise, and of letting out a part of Herald House to the passport division in blatant violation of the lease condition stipulating that the premises could be used only for publishing a newspaper. "The entire deal was to "grab the Rs 1,600 crore worth Herald House and other properties of National Herald/Quami Awaz in Delhi and in different parts of UP", Swamy had said.For More information on this news visit : http://www.newsx.com/Connect with us on Social platform at : http://www.facebook.com/newsxonlineSubscribe to our YouTube Channel : http://www.youtube.com/newsxlive