Indian court grants bail to Sonia, Rahul Gandhi in graft case

An Indian magistrate granted bail to opposition leaders Sonia and Rahul Gandhi minutes after they arrived at a Delhi court Saturday, over allegations they illegally acquired a newspaper’s assets.

The Congress party leaders, scions of India’s famous Gandhi-Nehru dynasty, arrived at the Patiala trial court waving to their supporters as hundreds of police and paramilitaries stood guard outside.

“Bail was granted, the matter stands adjourned until February 20,” defence lawyer RS Cheema, who was inside the courtroom, told reporters.

After brief proceedings a magistrate granted the mother-son duo bail without conditions on a personal bond of INR 50,000 ($754) each, the lawyer said.

Sonia’s daughter Priyanka Gandhi and former defence minister AK Antony provided sureties, the lawyer said. Three others accused in the case were also granted bail.

The Gandhis were summoned by the court after a politician from the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) filed a private criminal complaint accusing them of misappropriating assets of the now-defunct National Herald.

They fiercely deny Subramanian Swamy’s allegations and accuse Prime Minister Narendra Modi of waging a political vendetta against them and their embattled party, which has been struggling since a bitter electoral defeat last year.

“I have no doubt that the truth will come out. We are well aware of the campaign of attacks and criticism that our political rivals follow,” Sonia Gandhi said at a press conference following the hearing.

“They are targeting us and making full use of the state agencies,” she said.

It followed a tumultuous week in Indian politics which saw members of the embattled Congress and their allies throw parliament into chaos several times in protest at the case.

The intensely bitter spat between the parties looks set to stall the progress of a landmark sales tax reform in parliament.