Court refuses to issue notice to Sonia, Rahul

A Delhi court on Friday decided not to issue summons to Congress leaders Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi and others “just yet” in the ongoing National Herald money laundering case and asked the Enforcement Directorate (ED) to bring more documents on record and clear the defects.

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The ED had sought issuance of notice before the court formally takes cognisance of its complaint, which is equivalent to a chargesheet. The agency argued that under the revised legal provisions, the accused must be given a hearing before such a step is taken. “We don’t want this to be dragged on. Let the notice be issued,” the ED had urged the court.

However, Special Judge Vishal Gogne of the Rouse Avenue Court said the court could not pass such an order until it is fully convinced that a notice is necessary.