Sultanpur MP-MLA Court to Hear Rahul Gandhi Defamation Matter Today

Rahul Gandhi, Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, set out from his New Delhi residence on Monday morning for Sultanpur in Uttar Pradesh. He is due to appear before a special MP-MLA court there.

The case relates to objectionable comments allegedly made by Rahul Gandhi about Amit Shah, then the BJP president.

The Sultanpur MP-MLA court could deliver its verdict on Monday in a defamation case against the Congress leader. It is likely that Rahul Gandhi will be in court when the judgment is pronounced.

The case goes back to 2018, when Rahul Gandhi, then a Congress MP, made remarks against Union Home Minister Amit Shah during a convention in Bengaluru. Following the remarks, Vijay Mishra, then BJP district vice president, initiated legal proceedings.

Mishra, a resident of Hanumanganj in the Kotwali Dehat region of Sultanpur district, filed a defamation complaint in a local court. He argued that he had been hurt by Rahul Gandhi's statements.

The MP-MLA court summoned Rahul Gandhi on December 16, 2023. He appeared before the court and secured bail. In February 2024, the special court in Sultanpur granted bail to him again.

Rahul Gandhi denied the charges and said he was innocent. Subsequent statements and judicial steps followed.

With evidence proceedings concluded, the court fixed the matter for final arguments.

Mishra later asked for a voice sample comparison of Rahul Gandhi. The trial court rejected this plea. The sessions court and the Allahabad High Court also dismissed his petitions against those decisions.

A ruling in the case is now expected on Monday.