Defamation case against Rahul Gandhi adjourned again due to lawyers' strike

The hearing in the 2018 defamation case against Congress MP Rahul Gandhi has been postponed once more due to an ongoing lawyers' strike. Special MP-MLA judge Shubham Verma has now scheduled the next hearing for January 30, 2025, to complete the cross-examination process.

The case was filed by Vijay Mishra, a local BJP politician, who alleged that Gandhi made an offensive remark about BJP leader Amit Shah during the Karnataka elections, causing him personal distress.

The case has seen significant delays over its five-year duration. In December 2023, the court issued a warrant for Gandhi after he failed to appear. He surrendered in February 2024, and his statement was recorded on July 26, 2024. He was granted bail after furnishing two sureties of Rs 25,000 each. During his court appearance, Gandhi maintained his innocence, claiming the charges were part of a political conspiracy.

The court directed the plaintiff to provide evidence, but hearings have been repeatedly deferred. A session scheduled for December 16, 2024, was postponed due to the judge's absence. Similarly, the January 2 and January 10 hearings were delayed, with the latest rescheduling attributed to the lawyers' strike.

As the case drags on, the next hearing is awaited to determine further proceedings in this high-profile defamation suit.