Sonia Gandhi alleges witch hunt in National Herald case

"This kind of political witch hunt will only help us and help us to come back faster," Sonia Gandhi told NDTV.

She said her party has been served notices by the Income Tax department, asking why its tax benefits should not be withdrawn, reported the channel.

BJP, however, said it does not believe in any political vendetta but if a law has been violated then they are not responsible for any action.

A Delhi court on June 26 summoned Congress president Sonia Gandhi and her son, party vice-president Rahul Gandhi in the National Herald scam.

The court asked the duo to appear before it on Aug 7 for allegedly misappropriating funds worth Rs 2000 crore of The National Herald newspaper.

The court also summoned Congress leaders Motilal Vora and Oscar Fernandez, journalist Suman Dubey and technocrat Sam Pitroda in the case.

"I have found prima facie evidence against all the accused. The court has directed them to appear before it August 7," said metropolitian magistrate Gomati Manocha.

The court summoned them based on a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Subramanian Swamy.

The National Herald newspaper was established in Lucknow on Sept  9, 1938 by first Prime Minister of India Jawaharlal Nehru.

The paper finally ceased operations in 2008.

The National Herald, before its closure was being run by Associated Journals.

There were reports that the paper was being revived under journalist Suman Dubey, technocrat Sam Pitroda and the newly incorporated, Sonia Gandhi-owned Young India Company headquartered at Herald House.

The paper was to have come out by Children's Day in 2011 but Rahul Gandhi, a member of the board of the Young India Company had denied any plans on the part of the company to revive the paper.