A special MP/MLA court has postponed the hearing of a defamation case against Congress leader Rahul Gandhi to April 3 due to an ongoing lawyers’ strike. The decision was confirmed by Advocate Kashi Prasad Shukla, representing Gandhi, who noted that the strike prevented any legal proceedings from taking place on the scheduled date.
The case, initiated by local BJP politician Vijay Mishra, stems from comments Gandhi allegedly made during the 2018 Karnataka elections, which Mishra claimed were derogatory. The legal battle has seen numerous developments, including the issuance of a court warrant against Gandhi in December 2023.
Gandhi surrendered to the court in February 2024 and secured bail for Rs 50,000 divided over two sureties. He has pleaded not guilty to the charges, asserting that the accusations are part of a broader political conspiracy aimed at discrediting him.
The last court session prior to this scheduled hearing was on March 6. The case has experienced several delays, not only due to the lawyers’ strikes but also due to the ill health of Gandhi’s legal counsel. The most recent court activity involved the cross-examination of the complainant by Shukla on February 11.
