Congress president Sonia Gandhi and vice-president Rahul Gandhi are ready to go to jail in National Herald case if required, according to TV reports.

Sonia, Rahul and five other accused in the case have to appear before a court on Saturday, 19 December. The Congress leaders are accused of misappropriation of funds and illegally acquiring property worth Rs 2,000 crore.

The mother-son duo is reported to have not furnished the bail bond yet to avoid going to jail. They may not file a petition seeking bail in the case on 19 December, Congress sources told NDTV.

Senior Congress leaders and chief ministers may surround the court on Saturday to express solidarity with the Gandhis.

Meanwhile, the Maharashtra government has ordered a probe into the land given to Associate Journals Limited. 

BJP leader Subramanian Swamy in his 2012 complaint had accused Sonia, Rahul, Congress treasurer Motilal Vora, general secretary Oscar Fernandes, journalist Suman Dubey, technocrat Sam Pitroda and company Young Indian Pvt Ltd of fraud.

He accused them of cheating in acquiring the Associated Journals Limited (AJL), owner of the National Herald newspaper, by Young Indian. Both Sonia and Rahul owns 38% shares each in Young Indian Ltd.

National Herald was set up in Lucknow by Jawaharlal Nehru in 1938. The newspaper shut down in 2008 after prolonged financial difficulties.

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