The case involves an alleged objectionable comment made by the Rae Bareli Congress MP about Union Home Minister Amit Shah during the 2018 Karnataka Assembly elections, leading a local BJP politician, Vijay Mishra, to file a complaint.
Sultanpur, UP: A special MP-MLA court in Sultanpur held a hearing on January 2 for a defamation case against Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi, with further proceedings, including cross-examination, set for January 10, according to a lawyer.
The case involves an alleged objectionable comment made by the Rae Bareli Congress MP about Union Home Minister Amit Shah during the 2018 Karnataka Assembly elections, leading a local BJP politician, Vijay Mishra, to file a complaint.
Gandhi’s lawyer, Kashi Prasad Shukla, stated that cross-examination of the complainant, Vijay Mishra, took place, but since it was not completed, the next hearing will be held on January 10.
Mishra’s lawyer, Santosh Kumar Pandey, confirmed the cross-examination and added that further steps will continue on the scheduled date.
Filed in 2018, the case alleges that Gandhi’s remark was offensive and caused personal harm to Mishra. Despite multiple proceedings over the past five years, Gandhi had failed to appear in court, leading to the issuance of a warrant for his appearance in December 2023. In February 2024, Gandhi complied and was granted bail with two sureties of Rs 25,000 each.
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The court later instructed Gandhi to record his statement, which was eventually completed on July 26, 2024, after several delays. Gandhi pleaded not guilty, describing the case as a political conspiracy against him, and the court directed the complainant to present evidence.
A hearing previously set for December 16 was postponed due to the judge’s leave and rescheduled for January 2.
