NEW DELHI: In a small reprieve for Congress in the National Herald case , Sonia and Rahul Gandhi were granted exemption from appearing before a trial court till December 19 at 3 pm. The UPA chairperson and Congress vice president were issued summons on Monday for appearance in the lower court today in connection with the National Herald loan case.Sonia and Rahul Gandhi did not turn up in the Patiala House during the resumed hearing of the case. Senior lawyers including Abhishek Manu Singhvi urged the Court for an adjournment stating that a copy of the order is awaited and that the defendants will be challenging the High Court order in Supreme Court."We had sought the court's time to read the judgment carefully. Let me make it clear that each of the persons involved has the highest regard for the court order. Our contention is plain and clear that this is a political vendetta at worst. The ruling BJP is using proxy litigation to attack our senior leaders out of malice...Dr Swamy is part of the central machinery, which reflects the government's agenda," Senior Congress leader and lawyer Abhishek Manu Singhvi told the media. Sonia Gandhi , in a reply to reporters in Parliament over the case, said, "Why should I be upset over the charge. I'm not scared of anybody...this is nothing but vendetta politics."Singhvi echoed Gandhi's comments. "We have witnessed vendetta politics been carried out on our leaders. This is part of that series. We shall fight this charge with all its might in this court and the top court. There no slightest doubt in the mind that we will come clear," Singhvi added.On the other hand, petitioner in the case Subramanian Swamy asked for a short date and contested that the accused are deliberately avoiding appearance in the Court. The Judge remarked that he hasn't received a copy of the order of the Delhi High Court.Swamy vehemently demanded that the accused be directed to remain present in the Court on the next hearing.Welcoming the court order, Swamy said," It is a valid move, I respect its decision since I had insisted on a short date for summons. I'm happy with the order." In his order Justice Sunil Gaur, while rejecting the plea of the Congress leaders for any relief, said that the "modus operandi" adopted by them in taking control of the AJL (Associated Journals Private Limited) through a Special Purpose Vehicle i.e. Young Indian Private Limited, particularly when the main persons in Congress, AJL and YI were the same, showed "criminal intent"."Whether it is cheating, criminal misappropriation or criminal breach of trust is not required to be spelt out at this nascent stage… by no stretch of imagination, it can be said that no case for summoning petitioners as accused in the complaint in question is made out. Questionable conduct of petitioners needs to be properly examined at the charge stage to find out the truth and so, these criminal proceedings cannot be thwarted at this initial stage," Justice Gaur said.