Rahul Gandhi acquitted of defamation in 2018 for remarks against Amit Shah

Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi will appear in Sultanpur court on October 26, 2026 for hearing in a defamation case against him in Sultanpur. Mr Gandhi was acquitted in the case. | Photo credit: PTI

A Sultanpur district MP/MLA court on Monday (October 26, 2026) acquitted Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi in the 2018 defamation case over remarks against Union Home Minister and then BJP president Amit Shah.

“A defamation suit related to a remark made in Bengaluru during the 2018 Karnataka assembly elections. Justice Shubham Verma of the special MP-MLA court in Sultanpur dismissed the case and granted relief to Rahul Gandhi,” said Kunwar Singh Nishad, chairman of the media department of the Uttar Pradesh Congress Committee.

Mr. Gandhi appeared in court in 2023 and secured bail. The court had previously set October 13 for the announcement of the verdict, which was subsequently scheduled for October 26.

This morning, Mr. Gandhi arrived at the Chaudhary Charan Singh International Airport in Lucknow. Hundreds of Congress workers and local party leaders gathered at the airport to welcome the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha and MP Raebareli.

Before leaving for Sultanpur, Mr. Gandhi did not speak to the press.

While the Congress leader was heading to Sultanpur, his convoy collided on the Purvanchal Expressway on Monday (October 26, 2026) while he was on his way to Sultanpur for a court hearing in a defamation case against him, a police officer said.

The Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha was safe, the officer said, adding that the incident was not serious and no major injuries were reported.

The incident occurred around 10:15 am when a private vehicle at the front of the convoy belonging to local Congress leaders suddenly braked for an unspecified reason, causing the vehicles behind it to collide, an officer said.

VIDEO | Sultanpur, Uttar Pradesh: Convoy of Congress MP Rahul Gandhi involved in minor collision on Purvanchal Expressway; the congress leader is safe and no one was seriously injured. (Source: Third Party) (Full video available on PTI Videos – #RahulGandhi

— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) October 26, 2026

UP Police sets up SIT to investigate vehicular accidents

The Uttar Pradesh Police has formed a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to investigate the accident involving vehicles following Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s convoy during his visit to Sultanpur.

The investigation will examine the circumstances and causes of the accident and determine whether there was any negligence or error in security, escort arrangements or traffic management, the statement said.

(With PTI inputs)

Published – 26 Oct 2026 10:57 IST