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India's Gandhis to appear in court over National Herald case India's Gandhis appear in court over National Herald case
(about 1 hour later)
The top leaders of India's opposition Congress party, Sonia and Rahul Gandhi, are set to appear in court in connection with a corruption case. The top leaders of India's opposition Congress party, Sonia and Rahul Gandhi, have appeared in court in connection with corruption allegations.
They are accused of misusing party funds to buy a firm that published the now-closed National Herald newspaper. They were both granted bail minutes after arriving, and the case was adjourned until 20 February, the AFP news agency reported.
The petitioner, Subramanian Swamy of the ruling BJP party, says the Gandhis took over the company to try to acquire more than $300m in property assets. The mother and son deny misusing party funds to buy a firm that published the now-closed National Herald newspaper.
They will appear at a district court in Delhi and deny any wrongdoing. The case has been brought by a member of the ruling BJP.
Hundreds of Congress party supporters are expected to gather near the court on Saturday to support party president Sonia Gandhi and vice-president Rahul Gandhi, reports say. Subramanian Swamy says the Gandhis took over the company to try to acquire more than $300m in property assets.
Mr Swamy has written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi asking for more police, citing "a high probability of law and order being disturbed".
'Political vendetta''Political vendetta'
The Delhi high court on 7 December rejected the Gandhis' plea to be exempted from making a personal appearance in the district court. The Delhi high court on 7 December rejected the Gandhis' plea to be exempted from making Saturday's personal appearance in the district court at Patiala House.
The hearing is scheduled for 15:00 local time (10:30 GMT) at Patiala House in Delhi. The BBC's Sanjoy Majumder in Delhi says hundreds of armed security personnel took up position outside the courtroom as the Gandhis made their appearance, accompanied by party members in a show of strength.
The National Herald ceased publication in 2008. Mrs Gandhi, the party president, welcomed being granted bail and said she had no doubt that truth would prevail.
The party had previously said it wanted to revive the paper, established in 1938 by India's first prime minister, Jawaharlal Nehru. Rahul, who is the party vice-president, accused the BJP and Prime Minister Narendra Modi of making false allegations against him and his mother and said they would not be defeated.
The National Herald ceased publication in 2008. The party had previously said it wanted to revive the paper, established in 1938 by India's first prime minister, Jawaharlal Nehru.
But Mr Swamy has alleged that the leaders used party funds illegally to acquire the newspaper's properties.But Mr Swamy has alleged that the leaders used party funds illegally to acquire the newspaper's properties.
The case has also disrupted the current session of parliament, with Congress MPs accusing the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of a "political vendetta".The case has also disrupted the current session of parliament, with Congress MPs accusing the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of a "political vendetta".
"It is their way of doing politics. Pure 100% vendetta," Mr Gandhi told reporters outside parliament on 10 December. The BJP has rejected the allegations.
He said he had "full faith in the judiciary" and added that "we will see at the end what comes out. Truth will come out".
The BJP has rejected Mr Gandhi's allegations.
"How is parliament involved if some people have been summoned by a court? You [Gandhis] want to silence the judiciary. You want to intimidate the judiciary. You are telling the judiciary, how dare you summon us," Parliamentary Affairs Minister Venkaiah Naidu said."How is parliament involved if some people have been summoned by a court? You [Gandhis] want to silence the judiciary. You want to intimidate the judiciary. You are telling the judiciary, how dare you summon us," Parliamentary Affairs Minister Venkaiah Naidu said.
Congress lost the general election last year, winning only 44 of the 543 seats after governing India for 10 years.Congress lost the general election last year, winning only 44 of the 543 seats after governing India for 10 years.
The BJP won a landslide victory.The BJP won a landslide victory.