EC takes cognizance of alleged MCC violations by Modi, Rahul Gandhi
The poll panel has reportedly invoked section 77 of the Representation of the People Act, and held party presidents responsible, as a first step, to reign in star campaigners.
A Delhi court on Saturday adjourned the hearing in the National Herald case, involving former Congress chief Sonia Gandhi, her son and party president Rahul Gandhi and others till March 17.
The court also ordered that documents submitted by the main petitioner and BJP’s Rajya Sabha MP Subramanian Swamy be kept in a sealed cover till then.
According to reports, Swamy had produced before the court, Income Tax (IT) notices where Young Indian, a firm in which Sonia and Rahul Gandhi allegedly own a 38 per cent stake each, has been declared a tax offender.
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The court had began hearing the case earlier in the day.
Apart from the Gandhis, Congress party leaders Motilal Vora, Oscar Fernandes, Suman Dubey, and Sam Pitroda and Young Indian – are facing trial in the case.
Swamy had filed a complaint about “cheating” in acquisition of AJL, which published the National Herald newspaper, by Young Indian.
The case stems from a complaint by Swamy that accused the Gandhis of allegedly conspiring to cheat and misappropriate funds by just paying Rs.50 lakh, through which Young Indian obtained right to recover Rs.90.25 crore that the AJL owed to the Congress.
The Congress has accused the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of launching a “witch-hunt” in the case.
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