Delhi: Congress president Sonia Gandhi and her son Rahul Gandhi may not apply for bail in the National Herald case, as per a report on Wednesday.
According to a report in The Times of India, the Congress leaders, who are due to appear in the trial court on Saturday, were willing to go to jail to prove their innocence.
The report quoted sources in the Congress as saying that the party was planning a massive show of strength on Saturday.
Congress workers are expected to be present in large numbers at the Patiala House Court.
However, as per PTI, the party remained tightlipped on the course to be adopted by the two leaders when they appear before the court.
Senior advocate Abhishek Singhvi, who had represented the Gandhis in the court, steered clear of questions whether the Gandhis would apply for bail. "We cannot share our strategy. I have not spoken to anyone on the issue. I cannot speak on it".
Under procedures, once an accused has been summoned, he or she has to appear before it and seek bail which the court may grant. Otherwise, they can be taken into judicial custody.
If the accused does not apply for bail, the court can take the accused in the judicial custody.
Congress has been protesting in Parliament on the National Herald issue alleging political vendetta after the Delhi High Court refused to quash summonses to its leaders including Sonia and Rahul.
Congress president and vice president suffered a big jolt on December 07 when the Delhi High Court rejected their pleas for quashing the summons against them in the case.
Making scathing observations on the "questionable conduct" regarding how they took control of the publication, Justice Sunil Gaur also turned down the plea of Gandhis and five others for exemption from personal appearance in the case in the trial court where it was listed for December 09, as per PTI.
Along with the Gandhis, five other accused - Suman Dubey, Moti Lal Vohra, Oscar Fernandez, Sam Pitroda and Young India Ltd - had challenged the summons issued to them by a trial court on a complaint by BJP leader Subramanian Swamy against them for alleged cheating and misappropriation of funds in taking control of the now-defunct Daily.
However, on December 08, Sonia, Rahul and others were directed to appear in person on December 19 by a Delhi court which allowed their plea seeking exemption from personal appearance for the day in the National Herald case.
(With Agency inputs)
