Former PM Dr Manmohan Singh heaved a sigh of relief as he watched TV channels play out news that the Supreme Court had stayed summons against him in the Coalgate case. Two of Dr Singh's  three daughters were present in court today when the verdict was announced.

Dr Singh waited for his daughters to return from the apex court and as they returned home with the good news, they hugged their mother Gursharan Kaur and then touched their father's feet.

The verdict comes as a huge relief for Dr Singh who it is believed has been reading the Guru Granth Sahib praying for relief in the case.

Dr Singh has been worried about appearing in a lower court in the witness box and insiders say the anger with the Congress Party-- particularly two aides of Sonia Gandhi -- runs deep.

It is believed that a senior advisor to Sonia Gandhi was primarily responsible for the state of affairs, feel Dr Singh's family members.