New Delhi, May 8 (UNI) A Delhi court on Thursday adjourned the hearing in National Herald case involving Congress leaders Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi and others as proposed accused under Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).

The court adjourned the matter for May 21-22 for hearing the submissions on the aspect of cognisance.

Special Judge for MPs/MLAs cases Dr. Vishal Gogne said, " The notices have been served upon all proposed accused persons in terms of the previous order. Vakalatnama has been separately filed on behalf of four of the proposed accused, Memo of appearance has been filed on behalf of proposed accused Nos.6 and 7".

The court said, " However, since the notice has purportedly been served upon an alternative email ID upon one proposed accused only today, it is appropriate that submissions on the aspect of cognisance are heard on the next date of hearing".

Dr. Subramanian Swamy, the complainant in the proceedings relating to the predicate offence, had mentioned his presence before the court and submitted that an application for being supplied with a copy of the present complaint and documents shall be moved by him in due course.

In the previous order, the court directed that notice be issued to the proposed accused persons in order that they may be heard on the question of cognizance upon the present complaint.

On the previous date of hearing, the court said the complaint and accompanying documents should be sent in digital form along with the notice to the proposed accused through all permissible modes and listed the matter for consideration upon the aspect of cognizance for today.

The case relates to the allegations of financial irregularities involving the National Herald newspaper which has been investigation by the Enforcement Directorate (ED).

The complainant, Directorate of Enforcement (ED) has instituted the complaint under sections 44 & 45 of Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002 (PMLA) in relation to the alleged commission of the offence of Money Laundering as defined under section 3, punishable under section 4 of PMLA.

The complaint has named Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi, Suman Dubey, Sam Pitroda, M/s Young Indian, M/s Dotex Merchandise Pvt. Ltd and Sunil Bhandari the persons/ entities as the proposed accused in this case.

The scheduled offence which forms the basis of the present complaint is stated to have arisen upon the order of Metropolitan Magistrate -2, Patiala House Courts, New Delhi dated June 26, 2014 whereby, upon a complaint filed by Dr. Subramanian Swamy, the court issued summons to accused persons therein with respect to commission of offences under sections 403 (offences against computer resources), 406 (criminal breach of trust) and 420 (cheating) read with section 120B (criminal conspiracy) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).

The seven accused who thus came to be summoned in the predicate offence were Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi, Moti Lal Vohra, Oscar Fernandes, Suman Dubey, Sam Pitroda and the company by the name M/s Young Indian.

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