Subramanian Swamy withdraws plea to summon BS Hooda in Herald case

NEW DELHI: BJP leader Subramanian Swamy on Monday withdrew his application to summon former Haryana chief minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda and three senior IAS officers as witnesses in the National Herald case against Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi and other Congress leaders.

Swamy had linked the case with the CBI-Enforcement Directorate investigations into the Panchkula land allotment case but admitted on Monday before a metropolitan magistrate court that the FIR in the Panchkula land allotment case was not linked to the Herald case in Patiala House Courts.

"I am the complaint in the present case. I withdraw the list of additional witnesses filed on 22-04-2017…I have found that it is not connected with the present case," said Swamy’s submission before metropolitan magistrate Lovleen on Monday. Following Swamy’s submission, the judge ruled that there was no need to stay proceedings in the original case.

"The complainant submits that the case registered by CBI is not connected to the present case. His statement to the said effect has been recorded separately. The said assertion is not contested by the opposite party. In view of the said statement made by the complainant, there is no reason for this court to stay the present proceedings," the judge said.

Swamy on Monday sought more time for moving an application for summoning some documents. The arguments will be heard on July 1. RS Cheema and Rebecca John appeared on behalf of the accused.