BJP leader Subramanian Swamy
New Delhi:
BJP leader Subramanian Swamy was today issued notice after Congress leaders Sonia and Rahul Gandhi moved court against summons based on his allegations.
The Delhi High Court will take up the case again on Tuesday.
The Gandhis had petitioned the court after they were asked to appear next Thursday to respond to the BJP leader's allegations of cheating and criminal breach of trust against them.
Mr Swamy claims that the Gandhis broke the law to grab valuable properties in Delhi, including the office of the National Herald, a newspaper that was set up before independence by Jawaharlal Nehru. It was closed down in 2008 by Mrs Gandhi, whose husband Rajiv was Mr Nehru's grandson.
In June, metropolitan magistrate Gomati Manocha, who is hearing the case said, "I have found prima facie evidence against all the accused. The court has directed them to appear before it on August 7."
The Gandhis and the Congress have denied the allegations. To reporters' questions today, Sonia Gandhi said the "case is sub-judice."
Political parties are exempt from taxes on all sources of income. But Mr Swamy alleges the Congress broke the law by loaning Rs. 90 crore to a firm called Young Indian where the majority stake is owned by the Gandhis. Political parties cannot give loans for commercial transactions.
Mr Swamy alleges that Young Indian acquired Associated Journals Limited, the publisher of three newspapers, including the National Herald, and that the Gandhis aimed to grab property worth thousands of crores that belonged to the publishing company.
Congress, however, pointed out that Young Indian is a not-for-profit company and its directors are not even allowed any remuneration.