In Thane, Maharashtra, on Friday, January 19, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi was fined Rs 500 by a local court for a significant delay in filing his written statement in a civil defamation case. The case, filed by RSS activist Vivek Champanerkar, pertains to Gandhi’s alleged remarks linking the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) to the murder of journalist Gauri Lankesh in 2017.
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The court noted that Rahul Gandhi’s delay in filing the statement extended to 881 days. His lawyer, Narayan Iyer, explained that Gandhi, being a Member of Parliament and a resident of Delhi, had extensive travel commitments, which contributed to the delay. Iyer argued that the delay should be condoned to prevent irreparable loss to Gandhi, which cannot be compensated in monetary terms.
Despite opposition from Champanerkar’s lawyer, Aditya Mishra, who argued that Rahul Gandhi’s application was an attempt to prolong the case, the court decided to condone the delay on the condition that Gandhi pays a fine of Rs 500 to the District Legal Service Authority, Thane. The court is set to reconvene on February 15 to verify compliance with its order and to take Gandhi’s written statement on record.
In a related development, Rahul Gandhi is also seeking, for the second time, the transfer of the case from the senior division civil Magistrate’s court to the junior division civil Magistrate’s court. This move, according to the complainant, is another delay tactic. Gandhi’s previous request for transfer was rejected by a district judge in June 2022. The rationale behind the transfer request is that Champanerkar is seeking only one rupee as damages, which, according to Gandhi, warrants a hearing by a junior division civil judge.
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In a public gathering at Gogamukh in Assam’s Lakhimpur district, Rahul Gandhi took a swipe at the BJP and RSS, asserting that they favor ruling the country from Delhi, with one language and one leader. He contrasted this with the Congress’s support for local governance and equal importance to all states and regions. Gandhi emphasized the significance of the Northeastern states, stating that their history, language, and culture are as vital as those of any other region in India.
This legal development follows a previous conviction of Rahul Gandhi in a criminal defamation case by a Surat Court in March 2023 over his remark on the Modi surname. He was suspended as a Lok Sabha MP following his conviction but was restored after the Supreme Court stayed the conviction.
The unfolding of this case and Rahul Gandhi’s remarks highlight the ongoing political discourse in India, where issues of governance, regional autonomy, and freedom of speech remain at the forefront of national debate.
