Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Subramanian Swamy on Wednesday opposed an application filed by Congress leader Rahul Gandhi before the Rouse Avenue Court in Delhi seeking issuance of a fresh passport.
The Counsel appearing for Gandhi contended that since there were no criminal cases pending against him, he could be granted a no-objection certificate.
Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Vaibhav Mehta, however, opined that Swamy had the right to file a reply to Gandhi’s plea.
Thus, the case was listed for further hearing on May 26.
Swamy contended that if Gandhi was allowed to travel abroad, it might hamper the probe in the National Herald case, which was related to the assignment of a Rs 90 crore loan advanced by Congress party to the Associated Journals Ltd (AJL), the owner of National Herald, to Young Indian for a consideration of Rs 50 lakh.
Swamy had filed a case against Congress leaders Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi, Motilal Vora, Oscar Fernandes, Sam Pitroda and journalist Suman Dubey, along with the Gandhi-controlled company Young Indian of cheating, criminal conspiracy, criminal breach of trust and misappropriation of property.
On Tuesday, Rahul had filed a petition in a local court of Delhi seeking no objection for issuance of a fresh ordinary passport to him, after he surrendered his diplomatic passport on being disqualified as a Member of Parliament.
The Congress leader filed the application in the National Herald case moved by former MP Swamy against him.
Rahul and his mother Sonia Gandhi were granted bail in the case in December 2015. However, as per Gandhi’s lawyer, the court had not put any conditions regarding travel on him.