jharkhand-hc-stays-lower-court-proceedings-against-rahul-gandhi-in-defamation-case

The Jharkhand High Court today granted relief to Congress MP Rahul Gandhi in the case of his comments against BJP and its former president and current Union Home Minister Amit Shah.

 

The High Court stayed the non-bailable warrant issued by the Chaibasa Civil Court against Rahul Gandhi until the next hearing. Additionally, proceedings in the lower court have also been stayed. Justice Rakesh Kumar of the High Court has directed the indicator of this case to submit a response.

 

Rahul Gandhi made a statement on 18th March 2018 in AICC Plenary Sessions in New Delhi stating that: “The people of this country will accept a lying Bharatiya Janata Party leadership drunk with power because they know that, what the Bharatiya Janata Party is designed for”.

 

Further, he went on to say: “They will accept a man accused of murder as the President of Bharatiya Janata Party but the people will never accept the same in the Congress Party”

 

At that time, the incumbent Home Minister Amit Shah was holding the post of National President of BJP. State Vice President of BJP Yuva Morcha Pratap Katiyar had filed a case in the MP MLA Court of Chaibasa against this statement of Rahul. Though the case was transferred to the MP-MLA Court in Ranchi, after the MP-MLA Court started in Chaibasa, it was transferred to Chaibasa.

 

In April 2022, Chaibasa MP-MLA Court issued a bailable warrant against Rahul Gandhi in this case, on which no cognisance was taken.

 

On 27 February 2024, the court of Rishi Kumar issued a non-bailable warrant, after which Rahul Gandhi's lawyer had applied in the court seeking exemption from Rahul Gandhi's physical presence. 

 

But the court of Judge Rishi Kumar rejected his application on March 14, 2024, and issued an order to Rahul Gandhi to be physically present on March 27.

 The matter will now proceed as per the directives of the High Court, offering a significant reprieve to Rahul Gandhi in the ongoing legal battle.