The Supreme Court on Monday stayed proceedings temporarily in a defamation case against Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, which arose from his alleged “murderer” remark against Union Home Minister Amit Shah during a 2018 public address. This came after a plea filed by Gandhi challenging an order passed by the Jharkhand High Court in February 2024 rejecting his plea to quash the summons issued by the trial court.
The apex court issued notices to the Jharkhand state government and the complainant, BJP worker Navin Jha, calling for their response to Gandhi’s appeal. Lawyers for Gandhi expressed during the hearing before the apex court that a third party filed the complaint, something that is not permitted under defamation laws. “If you are not the person aggrieved, how can you have a proxy filing of complaint?” Singhvi was questioned as reported by Bar and Bench.
Defamation Case Against Rahul Gandhi Explained
The defamation case stems from a speech Gandhi made before the 2019 Lok Sabha elections in a public gathering at Chaibasa. According to an allegation, he called Amit Shah a “murderer.” Responding to this, BJP worker Navin Jha filed a defamation case against the Congress leader.
The magistrate court had dismissed the complaint initially, but a Judicial Commissioner in Ranchi had overturned the decision, directing the magistrate to review the evidence and reconsider the matter. The magistrate, in November 2018, ruled there were indeed grounds to proceed under Section 500 of the IPC and summonsed Gandhi to court.
Gandhi challenged it in the High Court of Jharkhand but was dismissed. A prima facie case of defamation was held and Justice Ambuj Nath said such comments by Gandhi portrayed BJP leaders to be “liars” who “would accept a leader accused of murder.”
But the Supreme Court has stayed his case, and Gandhi could get a short-term reprieve to fight legal cases over his questionable remarks.
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