A scheduled defamation hearing involving Congress leader Rahul Gandhi was postponed today, with the new date set for October 31. The decision came after the presiding judge at the MP-MLA special court in Uttar Pradesh was unavailable due to leave.
The plaintiff’s advocate, Santosh Kumar Pandey, confirmed the rescheduling due to Special Judge Shubham Verma’s absence. The case, which has garnered significant attention, accuses Gandhi of making disparaging remarks against Union Home Minister Amit Shah during the 2018 Karnataka elections. At the time, Shah was serving as the President of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
The complaint was lodged by Vijay Mishra, a local BJP leader from Hanumanganj, Kotwali Dehat, who asserts that Gandhi’s comments during the campaign were personally damaging. The controversy stems from Gandhi’s critique of Shah, which Mishra claims has tarnished his political mentor’s reputation.
Previously, on October 9, the court had taken Mishra’s statement as part of the ongoing proceedings. Rahul Gandhi, the current Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, has denied the allegations, branding the case as politically motivated. In a July 26 appearance, Gandhi refuted the charges in court and challenged the complainant to provide substantial evidence.
The legal battle saw a significant turn in December 2023 when a non-appearance by Gandhi led to the issuance of a warrant against him. He subsequently surrendered to the court in February 2024 and was released on bail after furnishing two bonds worth Rs 25,000 each.
