The MP-MLA court in Hathras deferred the hearing in the defamation case against Rahul Gandhi linked to remarks on the 2020 Hathras gangrape case. The matter could not be heard as the judge was on leave and will now be taken up on April 13.
The hearing in a defamation case filed against Congress leader and Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, could not take place on Monday in the MP-MLA court in Hathras, Uttar Pradesh, as the presiding judge was on leave. The matter is connected to statements Gandhi allegedly made regarding the 2020 Hathras gangrape case.
According to the lawyers involved in the matter, the court has now scheduled the next hearing for April 13. The case is being heard before the MP-MLA court in Hathras, which deals with criminal and civil matters involving elected representatives.
The development occurred after the matter was listed for hearing on Monday. However, the proceedings did not move forward because the presiding officer of the court was not present. The judge assigned to the case, Deepak Nath Saraswati, was reportedly on leave on the scheduled date.
Explaining the situation, counsel for the petitioners, Munna Singh Pundhir, said,
“Although the case was listed for hearing on Monday, the proceedings could not take place as the judge of the MP-MLA court, Deepak Nath Saraswati, was on leave.”
Meanwhile, the legal team representing Rahul Gandhi informed the court that they had formally submitted an objection in response to the complaint filed against the Congress leader. The objection was placed on record and also shared with the lawyers representing the complainants.
Advocate Alok Chandra, who appeared on behalf of Gandhi in the case, confirmed the development and said,
“I filed the formal objection on Monday and a copy of the same has also been provided to the petitioners’ counsel.”
The defamation complaint relates to statements allegedly made by Gandhi during his visit to Boolgarhi village in Hathras on December 12, 2024. The petitioners claim that Gandhi made remarks that were defamatory towards three individuals who had earlier been acquitted in connection with the 2020 Hathras gangrape case.
The case traces back to the tragic incident involving the alleged gangrape of a 19-year-old Dalit woman in Hathras district in September 2020. The woman later died due to her injuries. The incident had sparked nationwide outrage and intense debate over the handling of the case by authorities. The victim was cremated late at night outside the village by the police, reportedly against the wishes of her family, which further fueled public controversy.
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According to the complainants, Gandhi made remarks suggesting that the accused were moving freely despite the seriousness of the allegations. The petitioners argue that such statements damaged their reputation, especially because they had already been acquitted of the rape charges after a lengthy investigation and trial.
Pundhir explained the allegation in detail and said that Gandhi had made comments implying that the accused were roaming free while the victim’s family was restricted inside their home.
He stated,
“the accused were roaming freely while the victim’s family members were confined to their home.”
The complainants in the defamation case are Ravi, Ram Kumar alias Ramu, and Lovkush. Their lawyer argued that these statements harmed their reputation because they were acquitted after a Central Bureau of Investigation probe and a trial that lasted more than two and a half years. During this period, they had remained in jail while the case was being investigated and heard.
According to Pundhir, the petitioners strongly objected to Gandhi’s remarks as they believe the statements ignored the outcome of the court proceedings and the findings of the investigation.
He further clarified the background of the criminal case and the role of the accused. Pundhir claimed that only one individual, Sandeep, was originally named in the case, while the other three petitioners were later implicated.
Pundhir said,
“He said notices were earlier sent to Gandhi seeking a response, but no reply was received, following which the defamation case was filed.”
The lawyer also revealed that a legal notice had been served on the Congress leader demanding financial compensation for the alleged damage to the petitioners’ reputation. The notice sought a total compensation of ₹1.5 crore, calculated as ₹50 lakh each for the three men who were acquitted.
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The defamation proceedings are now expected to continue when the matter comes up for hearing before the MP-MLA court in Hathras on April 13.
As the case progresses, the court will examine the allegations made by the petitioners, the statements attributed to Rahul Gandhi, and the objections filed by his legal team before deciding the next course of action in the defamation complaint.
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