UP court fixes Aug 17 for hearing arguments in defamation case against Rahul Gandhi

A special MP/MLA court at Sultanpur of Uttar Pradesh on Wednesday, August 5, fixed August 17 for arguments in a defamation case against Congress leader Rahul Gandhi. The court has granted time to the complainant to pursue legal remedies before the Allahabad High Court.

Gandhi's counsel Kashi Prasad Shukla said the complainant's lawyer Santosh Kumar Pandey sought time before the court, stating that he intended to challenge the recent dismissal of a revision petition before the high court.

Accepting the request, the court adjourned the matter to August 17 for arguments.

The development follows the dismissal of the revision petition by an Additional District Judge on July 15. The petition, filed by BJP leader Vijay Mishra, had challenged the trial court's May 2 order rejecting his plea for forensic examination of Gandhi's alleged voice sample in connection with a CD placed on record.

The revision court had held that the application seeking voice sample examination was filed after an inordinate delay and lacked merit. It also observed that the trial court had exercised its discretion properly and that no interference was warranted.

The defamation complaint relates to remarks allegedly made by Gandhi against Union Home Minister Amit Shah during the 2018 Karnataka assembly elections campaign. Mishra filed the complaint before the Sultanpur MP/MLA court, alleging that the remarks were defamatory.

After a warrant was issued in the case, Gandhi first appeared before the court on February 20, 2024, when he was granted bail on two surety bonds of Rs 25,000 each. His statement was recorded on July 26, 2024, and he last appeared before the court on February 20 this year to present his defence.