GOI seeks AJL’s Reply on Vacating Multi-Million Herald House

THE Centre has issued a show-cause notice to the Associated Journals Limited (AJL), publisher of National Herald asking it why an eviction order should not be issued to get the premises of Herald House at ITO in Delhi vacated, The Tribune reports citing a senior official of the Union Housing and Urban Affairs Ministry .The notice comes after the Delhi High Court dismissed AJL’s plea challenging a single-judge order to vacate the premises at ITO. The notice was issued on March 05, 2019, the official confirmed. Now defunct The National Herald was founded by Jawaharlal Nehru from Allahabad during freedom struggle. Later, it was given plot in New Delhi at concessional rates for the publication of the group of newspapers owned by The National Herald. It had remained the mouthpieces of the AICC   till it ceased publication some years ago. The TNS reports the government has initiated proceedings under the Public Premises (Eviction of Unauthorised Occupants) Act, 1971 in the case following the court’s order. “A notice was issued under the PP Act seeking the AGL’s reply by March 13 as to why an eviction order should not be issued,” the official said. On February 28, a Delhi High Court Bench of Chief Justice Rajendra Menon and Justice VK Rao rejected the appeal of Associated Journals Ltd (AJL) challenging the Centre’s decision asking it to vacate the premises. It may be recalled that The National Herald corruption case is an ongoing case in a Delhi court filed by Indian economist and politician Subramanian Swamy against then Congress supremo Sonia Gandhi and her son Rahul Gandhi, MP, their companies and associated persons. Rahul Gandhi later has succeeded her as AICC  chief. As per the complaint filed in the court of the Metropolitan Magistrate, Associated Journals Limited (AJL) took an interest-free loan of INR 90.25 crore from Indian National Congress which was then headed by Sonia Gandhi. It is alleged that the loan was not repaid. A closely held company, Young Indian, was incorporated in November 2010 with a capital of INR 50 lakh and it acquired almost all the shareholding of AJL and all its properties alleged to be worth INR 5,000 crore by Dr Swamy, Parliamentarian. He alleged criminal misappropriation by both former Congress President Sonia Gandhi and her successor   Rahul Gandhi to grab the multi—million property. The courts have determined that a prima facie case has been established in the matter.