SC refuses to quash trial of Sonia, Rahul

R Sedhuraman

Legal Correspondent

New Delhi, February 12

The Supreme Court today refused to quash the criminal proceedings against Congress president Sonia Gandhi and vice-president Rahul Gandhi in the National Herald assets misappropriation case, but expunged the Delhi High Court’s adverse remarks against them and exempted them from personal appearance in the trial court.

A Bench comprising Justices JS Khehar and C Nagappan also allowed the Gandhis to question the logic behind the case by BJP leader Subramanian Swamy in the trial court at the time of framing of charges.

The Gandhis were eminent people and would not “run away” from the trial and as such there was no need for their personal presence. Their presence would cause more inconvenience than convenience for holding the proceedings, the court said.

Observing that the HC remarks on the merits of the case would “prejudice the trial,” the apex court said it was expunging the HC comments.