Rahul Gandhi’s plea against defamation complaint raises legal issues, says Bombay HC

way2barak, 27 Sept : The Bombay High Court on Tuesday sought assistance of Maharashtra’s Advocate General on the legal issues involved in a petition filed by Congress leader Rahul Gandhi challenging the defamation proceedings initiated against him by a magistrate’s court over his alleged remark on Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

The High Court posted the matter for further hearing on 17 Oct and extended interim bail granted to Gandhi till then.

The complaint alleged that in September 2018, Gandhi spoke at a rally in Rajasthan where he made defamatory statements against Modi regarding the Rafale fighter jet deal. Four days later, Gandhi purportedly commented on a video and posted on his personal X account, ‘The sad truth about India’s commander in thief.’ By calling Modi ‘commander in thief’, he made a direct allegation of theft against all members of the BJP and Indian citizens connected to Modi, the complaint claimed.