In a setback to Rahul Gandhi and Sonia Gandhi’s challenge to an income tax notice, the Delhi High Court has rejected their plea against the reopening and tax re-assessment for the financial year 2011-2012. No less than the Congress president and the UPA chairperson had filed the plea.

The court observed that the Income Tax department was within its rights to reopen the tax proceedings. Afterwards, the court said, the Gandhi family could approach the I-T department if they have grievances.

Rahul Gandhi has been accused of concealing his actual income in the years 2011-12 by not disclosing that he was a director in Young Indian Private Limited (YIPL) that owns Congress mouthpiece National Herald. The Gandhis had moved the Delhi High Court challenging the notice sent by the Income Tax department about re-opening the case, which pertains to the Young-Indian-National Herald transactions.