The Delhi High Court on Monday reserved its order on pleas filed by Congress leaders against the trial court’s direction to summon documents from six Government departments and balance sheets of the opposition party in the National Herald case. Justice PS Teji reserved the orders after hearing the rebuttals argued by Congress lawyers led by Abhishek Manu Singhvi against BJP leader Subramanian Swamy’s arguments to dismiss the petitions.
Singhvi, appearing for Congress general secretary Oscar Fernandes, told the court that there were “no reasons or objects” in the application filed by Swamy in which he had sought summoning of these documents. He argued that there was “no application of mind” by the trial judge while allowing the plea and the high court was entitled to reverse the order. “This court is entitled to reverse the order. This order is fit for reversal,” he said.
Earlier, Swamy had argued that the accused have no right to say what are all the evidences the trial court judge want to see to take decisions. The Metropolitan Magistrate in January directed six Government departments including Income Tax and Enforcement Directorate to summon the documents in related to the case. He also summoned the balance sheets of 2010-11, the period which scam took place of Congress and newspaper publishing company Associated Journals limited (AJl).
All the Government departments and balance sheets are submitted to trail court and kept sealed cover. The accused Congress leaders including Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi had argued in the trial court to keep the documents in sealed cover till the matter is resolved in High Court. The next hearing of the case in trial court is scheduled on May 5.