The defamation case dates back to the 2018 Karnataka elections, during which Rahul Gandhi allegedly made controversial remarks against senior BJP leader Amit Shah. In August 2018, Vijay Mishra, a local BJP leader and former cooperative chairman, filed a complaint, leading to the case.
Uttar Pradesh: The MP-MLA court in Sultanpur on Thursday(5th Sept) postponed the hearing in the defamation case against Congress leader Rahul Gandhi to September 19, after the plaintiff, Vijay Mishra, was unable to attend due to health issues, according to his lawyer.
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The hearing had previously been deferred on August 23 and rescheduled for September 5. Earlier, the August 12 hearing was also delayed as the special judge was on leave.
“An application was filed in the court to present evidence, which was accepted and the MP-MLA court has given the next date in the case as September 19,” Pandey said.
“The plaintiff will need to present evidence through his lawyer on September 19,” he added.
The defamation case dates back to the 2018 Karnataka elections, during which Rahul Gandhi allegedly made controversial remarks against senior BJP leader Amit Shah. In August 2018, Vijay Mishra, a local BJP leader and former cooperative chairman, filed a complaint, leading to the case.
On February 20, Gandhi surrendered to the court during the ‘Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra.’
He was granted bail on two personal bonds of Rs 25,000 each but was repeatedly summoned by the court to record his statement. During the Lok Sabha elections, Gandhi cited campaign commitments as the reason for not attending court, prompting a stern directive for his appearance.
Section 499 Indian Penal Code, 1860: Whoever, by words either spoken or intended to be read, or by signs or by visible representations, makes or publishes any imputation concerning any person intending to harm, or knowing or having reason to believe that such imputation will harm, the reputation of such person, is said, except in the cases hereinafter excepted, to defame that person.
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Eventually, on July 26, the Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha appeared before the Sultanpur court and gave his statement. Although a hearing was scheduled for August 12 to consider the evidence, it was postponed due to the judge’s leave.