Rahul Gandhi acquitted in 2018 Amit Shah defamation case

A special MP-MLA court in Sultanpur, Uttar Pradesh, on Monday acquitted Congress leader Rahul Gandhi in a defamation case over alleged objectionable remarks against Union Home Minister Amit Shah, who was the BJP president at the time.

Congress MP Karamvir Singh Boudh welcomed the court's decision, thanking the judiciary and invoking the Constitution of India: "We are all going out to open a 'shop of love' and build brotherhood."

After the court acquitted Gandhi in the case registered under Section 500 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), complainant Vijay Mishra said he would challenge the decision before an appellate court after obtaining a certified copy of the order and seeking legal advice.

Rahul Gandhi was present before the court at the time of the pronouncement of the verdict. The court said Rahul Gandhi's remarks are not defamatory.

The defamation case was filed by Mishra, local BJP leader and a former chairman of the Sultanpur District Cooperative Bank. Rahul Gandhi made the alleged remark during a campaign rally in Bengaluru ahead of the 2018 Karnataka Assembly elections.

Mishra had alleged that Gandhi made derogatory remarks about Shah, citing his statement that while the BJP professed a commitment to honest and clean politics, it was led by a "party president who is an accused in a murder case".

Gandhi appeared before the court for the final proceedings in the case on Monday. He travelled to Sultanpur via Lucknow.

After the court verdict, Congress leaders and supporters were seen celebrating outside the court with drums and slogans.

Speaking to reporters outside the court, Congress MLC Deepak Singh said, "We respectfully accept the court's decision, and the truth has ultimately prevailed. Rahul Gandhi had to face many hardships during this period..."

The complaint was filed in 2018, and the matter was subsequently heard by the special MP-MLA court in Sultanpur.

In February 2024, Gandhi appeared before the court and was granted bail on personal bonds. The proceedings continued thereafter.

Earlier this year, Gandhi travelled from Lucknow to the Sultanpur District Court amid heavy security to record his statement. He missed an earlier hearing scheduled for January 19, following which the court fixed February 20 as the next date.

After arguments from both sides concluded, the court delivered its verdict on Monday, acquitting Gandhi in the defamation case.

Congress hails verdict

The Congress on Monday termed the verdict a victory for the judiciary and said that truth would ultimately prevail.

Speaking to reporters, Congress leader Aradhana Misra Mona said the party had always had faith in the judiciary and that the verdict had reaffirmed its confidence.

"This is a victory for the judiciary, a huge victory. We had faith in our judiciary, and today that faith has been reaffirmed," she said.

Boudh also welcomed the court's decision, thanking the judiciary and invoking the Constitution of India.

"First of all, I thank the court, and especially the Constitution of India. Our fight to protect it continues. Jan Nayak Rahul GandhiJi is fighting to protect it. Whenever we talk about protecting the Constitution of this country, they deliberately register such FIRs to prevent leaders who believe in the Constitution from doing more work and to disturb them," he told IANS.

Boudh alleged that several cases against Opposition leaders had been registered under pressure and described the proceedings against LoP Gandhi as an attempt to disrupt his political work.

He further expressed confidence that other cases against Opposition leaders would also be dismissed.

"Truth will certainly prevail. We are all going out to open a 'shop of love' and build brotherhood. You must have seen how many protests took place in Delhi. Did anyone get hurt, even slightly? Did you see any shopkeeper being assaulted or any incident of violence? We are people who firmly believe in the Constitution. This is the victory of truth, and all the cases will be dismissed in the same way," he added.

Congress MLC Deepak Singh also welcomed the verdict, alleging that the BJP had repeatedly attempted to harass LoP Gandhi by implicating him in fabricated cases.

"Rahul Gandhi has been acquitted by the court. Truth has prevailed. The BJP's attempts to harass Rahul Gandhi by repeatedly implicating him in fabricated cases have been defeated," he said.

Singh added that the Congress would continue raising issues concerning the BJP's alleged double standards, including the handling of the Sangeeta Bhandari murder case.

Samajwadi Party leader S.T. Hasan said, "The ruling party tries to implicate Opposition leaders in every possible way. This has become a very unhealthy trend. Earlier, there were differences of opinion in politics, but people did not hold personal grudges against one another.

"Now, personal animosity has increased along with political differences. This reflects the declining standards of politics, where people try to implicate each other and then defend themselves. The court has delivered justice by separating truth from falsehood."

Indo-Asian News Service