Sultanpur,

09 March (HS): On Monday, a special MP/MLA court here set a March 12 hearing in

a 2018 defamation complaint against Lok Sabha Leader and Rae Bareli MP Rahul

Gandhi for statements he made against Union Home Minister Amit Shah. Advocate

Santosh Kumar Pandey, counsel for the complainant, stated that Special Judge

Shubham Verma has set March 12 for further arguments in the case. The complaint

was launched by Vijay Mishra, a BJP politician. Gandhi recorded his testimony under

Section 313 of the CrPC in court on February 20, according to Pandey. Gandhi

said that the lawsuit was initiated against him out of political vendetta, and

he promised to submit evidence in his defense.

The claims

are false and unjustified. I have never used disparaging language against

anybody, nor have I used such language with the goal to defame anyone. Gandhi

was cited as claiming by his lawyer, Kashi Prasad Shukla, that a fraudulent

complaint had been lodged by twisting his comments.

The

charges against me were created out of political malice with the intent of

ruining my and my party's reputation. I have never used abusive remarks against

anyone, nor have I used such language with the goal to defame anyone, Gandhi

told the court. The complainant's attorney further stated that

cross-examination of the complainant, BJP leader Vijay Mishra, and two

witnesses had already taken place.

The

lawsuit began in 2018, when Vijay Mishra, a local BJP politician and former

chairman of the District Cooperative Bank, filed a defamation charge against

Gandhi, claiming that during the Karnataka elections, the Congress leader made

disparaging statements about Amit Shah.

The trial

has been ongoing for the last five years. Gandhi was given a warrant in

December 2023 for failing to appear in court. He surrendered in February 2024,

and a special court granted him bail with two sureties of Rs 25,000 apiece. On

July 26, 2024, Gandhi testified in court, asserting innocence and describing

the case as a political scheme. The court then asked the complainant to present

evidence in the case.

Hindusthan Samachar / Abhishek Awasthi