Supreme Court stays defamation case against Rahul Gandhi over ‘thief in command’ remark against PM Modi | Today’s news
The Supreme Court on Tuesday stayed further proceedings in the Maharashtra defamation case against Congress MP and Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, over remarks he made against Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2019. A bench of Justices Vikram Nath and Aparesh Kumar Singh issued a notice to the Maharashtra government and sought their reply for MH four weeks and complainant Shrim, MH
“The issue notice is returnable in four weeks. Further proceedings before the trial court will remain in abeyance,” the court ordered on an objection filed by Gandhi against the Bombay High Court’s September 8 order refusing to quash the summons to him.
Defamation case against Rahul Gandhi
Senior advocate Abhishek Singhvi, appearing for the Congress leader, referred to an earlier apex court decision and said the law was settled on the matter.
Earlier, on September 8, the Bombay High Court refused to quash the summons issued to Gandhi in 2019 in a defamation case.
It dismissed Gandhi’s petition against the Girgaum Magistrate’s order dated 28 August 2019 to try him on Shrishrimal’s complaint.
However, the Supreme Court continued its 2021 order directing the magistrate to adjourn the hearing of the complaint for six weeks to allow Gandhi to approach the Supreme Court.
Shrishrimal opposed Gandhi’s plea in the Supreme Court, claiming that as a member of the BJP, he too was aggrieved by the remarks against its leader.
What Rahul said in 2018
The complaint alleged that Gandhi defamed Prime Minister Modi in a public speech on 20 September 2018 in Rajasthan using terms such as “thief commander” and “Choron Ke Sardar” while talking about the Rafale fighter jet deal.
It claimed that Gandhi’s statements amounted to direct accusations against all BJP members and Indian citizens connected to Prime Minister Modi.
