Sonia, Rahul respond to National Herald case, call for its dismissal

In their response toSubramanian Swamy's complaint in connection with the National Herald case,Congress president Sonia Gandhi and vice-president Rahul Gandhi stated that the application filed by the BJP leader was not bonafide.

Calling the complaint a "lifeless case" they said that the application has been filled with the sole object of "delaying the proceedings".

They also said in theirresponse that the complainant and BJP leader has used various tactics to delay his appearance in the court.

They said that the application was filed with "most casual manner". It failed to call witnesses and documents within aspecified period of time.

The mother-son duo called for an immediate rejection of the complaint.

Subramanian Swamy had filed a complaint against the newspaper National Herald in 2012. The complaint was filed against Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi, Congress treasurer Motilal Vora, party leaders Oscar Fernandes, Suman Dubey and Sam Pitroda.

In the complaint, he alleged that the Congress granted an interest-free loan of Rs 90.25 crore to the owner of National Herald-Associated Journal Limited (AJL). It further statedthat Congress had mismanaged the loan which remained outstanding. Sonia and Rahul were made directors of the company, Young India, in 2010. The company acquired all the shareholdings of the AJL amounting to Rs 5,000 crore.

The court will hear the matter on January 20.