Sultanpur,

20 Feb (HS): Leader of the opposition Rahul Gandhi is scheduled to appear

before an MP-MLA court in Sultanpur, Uttar Pradesh, on Friday to record his

testimony in a defamation case involving statements he made against Union Home

Minister Amit Shah. The Congress leader arrived in the morning and immediately

traveled to Sultanpur for the court hearing.

Ajay

Rai, Congress chief, stated that Gandhi had come for the court hearing. He

has come specifically for the hearing after which he will fly back to

Delhi, Rai informed journalists during a brief interaction. Some local

Congress leaders in Sultanpur have posted 'Satyamev Jayate' (truth always prevails)

posters ahead of the court hearing. The matter dates back to 2018 when local

BJP leader Vijay Mishra filed a defamation charge against Gandhi. The Congress

lawmaker allegedly made disrespectful statements about the then-BJP president

and current Union Home Minister Shah during the Karnataka elections in 2018. The

trial has been underway for five years.

Gandhi

received a warrant for failure to appear in court in December 2023. He

surrendered in February 2024, and a special court granted him bail with two Rs

25,000 sureties apiece. Gandhi

testified before the court on July 26, 2024, professing innocence and

describing the case as a political scheme. Following that, the court ordered

the complainant to provide evidence in the case.

Hindusthan Samachar / Abhishek Awasthi