Herald case: SC exempts Gandhis from personal appearance

New Delhi, Feb 12  The Supreme Court on Friday refused to put on hold criminal proceedings against Congress president Sonia Gandhi, vice president Rahul Gandhi and others in the National Herald case but expunged all adverse observations, inferences and conclusions by the high court.

The apex court bench comprising Justice J.S. Khehar and Justice C. Nagappan also exempted the Gandhis and others from personal appearances, noting their presence in the trial court would cause more inconvenience, than convenience.

However, the court said the trial court was free to secure their presence as and when needed. 

In yet another relief to the Gandhis, the court permitted them to raise all the issues, including the locus of Subramanian Swamy, who has initiated the criminal proceedings in the Herald case.