In a recent development, the Jharkhand High Court has granted relief to Rahul Gandhi, the former Congress president, exempting him from appearing personally before a special Ranchi Court. This court is currently hearing a defamation petition related to the ‘Modi surname’ case against the Wayanad MP.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!Justice Sanjay Kumar Dwivedi, presiding over the case, permitted Gandhi to be represented by his advocate in the lower court, albeit under specific conditions. The High Court issued a cautionary note to Rahul Gandhi, emphasizing that any witnesses examined during his absence would not be subjected to re-examination at a later stage.
The origins of this case trace back to a comment made by Rahul Gandhi during a Lok Sabha election rally in 2019. He remarked
“All Modis are thieves.”
This statement led city advocate Pradeep Modi to file a defamation suit against him. Following the recording of the advocate’s statements, the district court took cognizance against Rahul Gandhi and subsequently issued a summons, mandating his personal appearance.
In response, Rahul Gandhi filed a petition in the lower court, seeking exemption from this personal appearance. However, this request was turned down on May 3. Undeterred, the Congress leader then approached the Jharkhand High Court, which, in a decision on Wednesday, granted him the sought-after exemption.
This case has garnered significant attention, and the recent verdict is a pivotal moment in its ongoing proceedings.