Sultanpur, March 6 – The hearing in the defamation case against Leader of Opposition and Rae Bareli MP Rahul Gandhi could not take place on Thursday at the special MP-MLA court as the complainant and witnesses failed to appear in court. Consequently, the matter has been adjourned, with the next hearing scheduled for March 20.
The defamation case dates back to 2018, when BJP leader Vijay Mishra, a resident of Hanumanganj in Kotwali Dehat, filed a complaint against Rahul Gandhi in the MP-MLA court. The complaint alleged that during the Karnataka elections in 2018, Rahul Gandhi made derogatory remarks, which deeply offended the complainant.
Five-Year-Long Legal Proceedings and Rahul Gandhi’s Surrender
The case saw a five-year-long legal process, during which Rahul Gandhi did not appear before the court. In December 2023, the presiding judge issued a warrant summoning Rahul Gandhi. Subsequently, in February 2024, Rahul Gandhi surrendered before the court.
Following his surrender, the Special Magistrate’s Court granted him bail on two sureties of ₹25,000 each. The court then directed him to appear for recording his statement. After multiple adjournments, Rahul Gandhi finally appeared before the court on July 26, 2023, and recorded his statement, declaring himself innocent and claiming that the case was a result of political conspiracy.
Repeated Adjournments Due to Lawyers’ Strike and Advocate’s Illness
The legal proceedings faced multiple delays. On January 2, 2024, the court scheduled cross-examination of the complainant, but due to lawyers’ strikes on January 10 and January 22, the hearings were postponed. Another hearing was set for January 30, but Rahul Gandhi’s lawyer, Kashi Shukla, was unwell, leading to another deferment.
Recent Developments: March 6 Hearing Postponed
At the beginning of 2024, due to the lawyers’ strike and health issues of Rahul Gandhi’s counsel, hearings were frequently delayed. However, on February 11, 2024, Rahul Gandhi’s advocate Kashi Prasad Shukla successfully completed the cross-examination of the complainant.
The next hearing was set for March 6, where further proceedings were expected to take place. However, while the complainant was present in the court premises, he did not appear before the judge, leading to another adjournment.
Bhupendra Singh Chundawat is a seasoned technology journalist with over 22 years of experience in the media industry. He specializes in covering the global technology landscape, with a deep focus on manufacturing trends and the geopolitical impact on tech companies. Currently serving as the Editor at Udaipur Kiran, his insights are shaped by decades of hands-on reporting and editorial leadership in the fast-evolving world of technology.
