Complaint over PM Modi remarks: HC refuses to quash 2019 summons of Rahul Gandhi

A single justice NR Borkar dismissed Rahul Gandhi’s petition against the Magistrate’s order. File. | Photo credit: Shashi Shekhar Kashyap

The Bombay High Court on Tuesday (Sep 08, 2026) refused to quash the 2019 summons of Congress MP Rahul Gandhi in a defamation complaint over his remarks against Prime Minister Narendra Modi, whom he called a “thief in command”.

A single justice, NR Borkar, dismissed Mr. Gandhi’s petition against the Magistrate’s order.

However, the HC continued its 2021 order directing the magistrate court to adjourn the hearing of the complaint for six weeks to allow Mr Gandhi to approach the Supreme Court in appeal.

Justice Borkar said the court found no “perversity and illegality” in the magistrate’s order and hence no reason to interfere with it.

“This court has not found any defect in the order. The petition is therefore dismissed,” the HC said.

Mr Gandhi, the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, had challenged the Girgaum judge’s order on August 28, 2019, to initiate a trial against him on a complaint filed by one MH Shrishrimal, who claimed to be a member of the ruling BJP.

The defamation complaint against the Congress leader was filed over Mr Gandhi’s “thief in command” remark against Prime Minister Modi in 2018 over the Rafale fighter jet deal.

The HC had in November 2021 directed the Magistrate’s Court to adjourn the hearing of the defamation complaint, which meant that the Congress leader would not have to appear before the judge.

The complaint alleged that Mr Gandhi defamed Prime Minister Modi in a public speech in September 2018 in Rajasthan.

Mr. Gandhi’s counsel Sudeep Pasbola and advocate Kushal Mor argued that the complaint was without merit and the complainant had no standing to file it.

The complainant was not an aggrieved party and therefore cannot file such complaint as he did.

In his complaint, Mr Shrishrimal alleged that apart from making remarks during the rally against PM Modi, Mr Gandhi also posted a video on his personal account X (formerly Twitter) referring to the PM as a “thief in command”.

According to the complainant, these statements amounted to direct accusations of theft against all BJP members and Indian citizens connected to PM Modi.

Mr. Shrishrimal opposed Mr. Gandhi’s plea in the HC.

Published – 8 Sep 2026 12:48 IST