Leader of Opposition and Rae Bareli MP Rahul Gandhi’s counsel on Tuesday cross-examined a witness before an MP/MLA court in connection with a defamation case against the Congress leader. The court in Sultanpur has now kept the matter on September 23, when the cross-examination would continue.
Santosh Kumar Pandey, the counsel for BJP leader Vijay Mishra — the complainant in the case — said witness Anil Mishra of Pitambarpur Kala appeared and Gandhi’s counsel Kashi Prasad Shukla cross-examined him.
The case dates back to 2018, when Mishra filed a defamation suit against Rahul Gandhi, alleging he made objectionable remarks against Union Home Minister Amit Shah during the Karnataka Assembly election campaign.
The MP-MLA court issued a warrant against Rahul Gandhi in December 2023. In February 2024, Rahul appeared before the court and was granted bail on two sureties of `25,000 each.
On July 26, 2024, Rahul recorded his statement in court, claiming innocence and stating the case was part of a political conspiracy against him.