With BJP leader Subramanian Swamy ending his submission of evidence in the National Herald case on Monday, the trial court has posted the case for starting of cross-examination on October 27. All the accused Congress leaders are expected to bring senior lawyers to cross-examine Swamy, which is the most interesting part in the politically sensitive National Herald case, where Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi are also caught by the Income Tax Dept. (IT) for hushing up Rs.414 crores taxable income, facing a Rs.250 crores penalty.

Today (September 17) was the third day of the submission of evidence by Swamy. As soon as Swamy ended the submission, the Congress lawyers demanded to start the cross-examination by asking one question. This was a clever move by Congress lawyers to prevent Swamy from providing further evidence in between the next posting of the case. Sensing the Congress move, Swamy said that he is not prepared for the cross-examination and the Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Samar Vishal posted the case to start crossing on October 27.

In his one hour long submission of evidence today, Swamy concentrated on the production of documents related to Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi in the formation of new firm Young Indian and the acquisition of National Herald newspaper publishing firm Associated Journal Limited (AJL). Most of the documents and evidence submitted by Swamy were objected to by Congress leaders, accusing him of going “beyond the complaint.”

“Thereafter, accused No: 3 Mr. Motilal Vora as representative of Young Indian and also as Treasurer of the Congress party at that time approached the Chairman of Managing Director of AJL, who was also Motilal Vora and made the proposals that since AJL was not in a position to discharge or liquidate the debt, Young Indian as owner of the debt will accept insisted of nine crores or thereabouts issue fresh shares at the 1937 price of Rs.10,” said Swamy submitting the documents. Congress lawyers objected to Swamy’s statements that Vora did all illegalities knowingly.

Congress lawyers also objected to the production of journalist J Gopikrishnan’s emails to Rahul Gandhi where the latter clearly says that he has no intention to re-launch National Herald newspaper. Congress lawyers argued that these emails are not at all the part of the case.

Completing the submission of evidence, Swamy said that all the accused including Sonia Gandhi and Rahul of engaging in criminal conspiracy, criminal breach of trust, criminal misappropriation of properties and cheating.

Meanwhile, on October 6, the arguments by Congress leaders and Swamy will take place on the Congress leaders’ objections on the “highly objectionable” tweeting by Swamy.