Rahul Gandhi Gets Relief as Court Acquits Him in Case

Relief came for Rahul Gandhi on Monday when a special MP-MLA court in Sultanpur acquitted him in a defamation case tied to a remark about Amit Shah. Rahul Gandhi, who leads the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, was present in court when the decision was announced.

Earlier in the day, he reached Sultanpur from Delhi and submitted a personal bond in line with the court's directions.

Rahul Gandhi arrived at the special court at about 11:12 am. Security was strengthened around the civil court premises due to his scheduled appearance. People who had come to pursue complaints were kept waiting outside in a queue. After he entered the courtroom, the door was closed for security reasons.

Supporters of the Congress gathered on the Purvanchal Expressway near Kurebhar to welcome him. Former minister OP Singh also reached the spot with a convoy of about 400 vehicles and nearly 4,000 people, and the presence of Congress leaders and workers remained a focal point of attention.

The matter stems from a May 2018 press conference in Bengaluru during the Karnataka Assembly elections. It is alleged that Rahul Gandhi made an objectionable remark against Amit Shah, who was then the BJP national president and is currently the Union Home Minister. BJP leader Vijay Mishra, former president of the Sultanpur District Cooperative Bank, filed a complaint on August 4, 2018, calling the remark defamatory.

The case was initially heard in a civil court and later moved to the MP-MLA court. Rahul Gandhi was summoned on November 27, 2023. He appeared before the court in person for the first time on February 20, 2024, and was released on bail against two bonds of Rs 25,000 each.

He has denied the accusations and termed them a conspiracy by the ruling party. An application by the complainant seeking a voice sample of Rahul Gandhi was rejected by the trial court. Both the sessions court and the Allahabad High Court also did not accept this demand.

For the verdict, the court had mandated his personal presence and asked him to furnish a personal bond and surety before the judgment. He completed these steps in Sultanpur.

Having heard the complainant's allegations, the court acquitted Rahul Gandhi, bringing him a major reprieve in the case.