The Patiala House Courts on Saturday witnessed an action-packed scene as the Congress’ who’s who thronged the court premises showcasing solidarity with Congress president Sonia Gandhi and party vice-president Rahul Gandhi, accused in the much-talked National Herald case. Multi-layered security was in place to keep away the charged-up supporters of the Congress from disturbing the court proceedings. Police wireless was constantly buzzing, as an expectant crowd gathering in front of the Patiala House Courts complex put traffic in Central Delhi out of gear.
The running commentary of a huge posse of mediapersons reached a crescendo as the mother-son duo reached the courts at 2.45 pm. Sonia and Rahul walked to the courts premises after stepping down from their car, parked a few yards away from the entrance of the premises. Much before their arrival, occasional murmurs that ‘they’ had reached made the rounds every few minutes, throwing the battery of reporters into a tizzy.
Complainant BJP leader Subramanian Swamy was the first to arrive around 2.15 pm. Within minutes, Congress’ counsel Abhishek Manu Singhvi arrived with Sonia’s political secretary Ahmed Patel, followed by Kapil Sibal. Around 2.30 pm, Priyanka Vadra accompanied by a host of Congress heavyweights — including Ghulam Nabi Azad, Mallikarjun Kharge, Sheila Dikshit and Ambika Soni — arrived at the court premises. Former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s cavalcade zoomed past the crowd, comprising media and a handful of Congress workers, soon after. All of them made their way out in a similar fashion as Sonia and Rahul got bail in the case after the court rejected Swamy’s plea for conditional bail.
Meanwhile, vehicles moved at a snail’s pace due to the intense security restrictions. Police had a tough time warding off onlookers who stalled the traffic movement in their bid to capture the activities in front of the court. Former Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit said the turnout of the top party leadership in the court should not be seen as a “show of strength.”
Only Manmohan Singh and Subramanian Swamy brought their vehicles inside the court premises while others walked inside the court premises. Rahul Gandhi seemed cheerful and wore a smile on his face all along the court proceedings while Sonia looked tensed.
The courtroom of Metropolitan Magistrate loveleen which occupies meager 20x20 sq metres of space was full of lawyers and politicians. No mediaperson was allowed inside the courtroom and only 13 reporters were given permission to report from outside the courtroom.
Sonia and Rahul stood first in the row and behind him stood Oscar Fernandes in the extreme right side. Priyanka, who was there to support her brother and mother, stood in the second row and was wearing formal clothing. Motilal Vora and Manmohan Singh sat down in the chairs kept inside the courtroom.