Defamation Case: Jharkhand HC Refuses to Quash Proceedings against Rahul Gandhi

The Jharkhand High Court on Friday dismissed Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s petition to quash the proceedings against him in the trial court in a criminal defamation suit filed for his alleged derogatory remarks against BJP leader Amit Shah in 2018.

On February 16, Gandhi’s written version was presented in court, following which Justice Ambujnath’s bench reserved the decision.

The issue stems from an election speech made by the former Congress president during the 2018 Congress session in Chaibasa.

BJP leader Naveen Jha, who filed the defamation suit in the Jharkhand High Court, alleged that Rahul Gandhi had made objectionable remarks against the then BJP national president Amit Shah.

Gandhi was granted bail on February 20 by a special court in Sultanpur in a defamation case filed by BJP leader Vijay Mishra on August 4, 2018. The case was against Gandhi for allegedly making objectionable comments against Shah at a press conference in Bengaluru on May 8 of that year, during the Karnataka elections.