Supreme Court stays defamation case proceedings against Rahul Gandhi in remark against PM
PTC News Desk: The Supreme Court on Tuesday put a temporary hold on further proceedings in a defamation case against Congress leader Rahul Gandhi in Maharashtra. The case relates to his remarks about Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2018.
A bench of Justices Vikram Nath and Aparesh Kumar Singh issued notices to the Maharashtra government and the complainant, MH Shrishrimal, asking them to respond within four weeks.
The court ordered that proceedings in the trial court remain on hold while it considers Gandhi’s petition challenging a September 8 order of the Bombay High Court. The High Court had refused to cancel the summons issued to him in the case.
Senior advocate Abhishek Singhvi, representing Gandhi, referred to earlier Supreme Court judgments and argued that the legal position on the matter was already settled.
On September 8, the Bombay High Court dismissed Gandhi’s plea challenging a Girgaum magistrate’s order dated August 28, 2019, which initiated proceedings against him based on Shrishrimal’s complaint. However, the High Court continued its 2021 order directing the magistrate to postpone the hearing for six weeks, allowing Gandhi time to approach the Supreme Court.
The complaint alleged that Gandhi made defamatory remarks about PM Modi during a public speech in Rajasthan on September 20, 2018. It claimed that his statements amounted to allegations against all BJP members and Indian citizens associated with the Prime Minister.
- PTC NEWS
