SETBACK FOR GANDHIS: No stay on AJL's eviction from Herald House; sanction to prosecute ex-Haryana CM Bhupinder Singh Hooda granted

Update at 2:05 PM: 'Those who are culprit of using public money for illegal activities will finally be brought to book. This will be a message to the society and such people. Corruption will be removed from the society: Haryana government official 

Update at 12:42 PM: It is a political vendetta against me. I have done nothing wrong. Everything has been done according to the law. I have full faith on the judiciary. I don't have any tension: Bhupinder Singh Hooda

Update at 12:30 PM: Delhi High Court adjourns hearing in National Herald case for November 22 and orders complete status quo to be maintained till next date of hearing

Update at 12:28 PM: Delhi police personnel are at the National Herald House for the eviction

Update at 12:25 PM: Bhupinder Singh Hooda: It has been four years of this state government. This is the most non-performing government ever seen in Haryana. 

Update at 12:21 PM: No stay granted to the AJL (L&D office can go ahead with initiating the eviction proceedings. However, with regard to taking the physical possession of the property, Tushar Mehta has assured the court that the govt will not be taking physical possession at least before November 22 (while the matter is still pending before the court))

Update at 12:14 PM: Tushar Mehta opposes the demand for an interim stay in the case stating that department will not take over physical possession of the property.

Update at 12:09 PM: SG Tushar Mehta begins arguments

Update at 11:50 AM: Hearing in the National Herald case is underway in the Delhi court.

Update at 11:27 AM: Two officer, Mr. Gopal Rastogi and Mr. KS Rana from the department have entered the Herald House to initiate the eviction proceedings. 

Update at 11:20 AM: On being questioned if he is the first Congress leader to be prosecuted in the National Herald case, Dr. Subramanian Swamy said 'No that's not correct'.

"Sonia Gandhi is already out on bail and Rahul Gandhi, Motilal Vohra and others are on bail. So, he is an additional name. I had earlier brought his name in the matter but it was basically the property in Panchkula is wonderful property for tourist point of view. He had acquired it to sell it to Vadra. Next name that has come after he had gone to the court asked to bail. He wanted bail. A case is already going in the Patiala court as far as Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi are concerned," Dr Swamy said.

Update at 11:10 AM: Haryana Governor gives sanction to prosecute former CM Bhupinder Singh Hooda in AJL case. He will be the first Congress leader to be prosecuted in the National Herald case.

Update at 10:40 AM: The hearing in the National herald case begins in the Delhi High Court.

In a series of simultaneous massive developments in the National Herald case, while the petition filed by AJL, the owner of the National Herald newspaper, against the Centre's decision to cancel its lease and vacate the Herald House is being heard in the Delhi High Court, as per sources the Haryana Governor has given sanction to prosecute former Haryana CM Deepender Singh Hooda in the case.

As Republic TV broke news of the sanction to prosecute Hooda over the transfer of a plot in Panchkula to AJL in 2005 when he was CM, in the apex court, senior Congress leader Dr Abhishek Manu Singhvi, arguing for AJL, said that he had just been informed that two officials had arrived at the Herald House for eviction.

READ: MASSIVE: Haryana Governor Gives Sanction To Prosecute Former CM Bhupinder Singh Hooda In AJL Case

The Delhi High Court on Monday, November 12 deferred the petition filed by Associated Journals Ltd (AJL), the owner of National Herald newspaper, against the Centre's decision to cancel its lease and vacate the Herald House by November 15 on grounds of violation of lease clauses. The Centre had issued the order on October 30.

Earlier in October, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) had sought sanction from Haryana government to prosecute former Haryana chief minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda in a case pertaining to the restoration of an institutional plot at Panchkula to Associated Journals Ltd (AJL) at old rates.