Congress leader and Lok Sabha’s Leader of Opposition, Rahul Gandhi, appeared before a special MP-MLA court in Chaibasa on Wednesday in a defamation case linked to comments he allegedly made against Union Home Minister Amit Shah during a 2018 rally.
Security Tightened For Court Appearance
Ahead of Gandhi’s arrival, security was heightened across Chaibasa. The district administration deployed additional forces to ensure smooth proceedings and maintain law & order.
Gandhi reached the town via helicopter from Ranchi, with a temporary helipad set up at Tata College Ground for his landing, officials confirmed.
Gandhi was already in Jharkhand, having arrived on Tuesday to attend the funeral of former Chief Minister and tribal leader Shibu Soren at his ancestral village, Nemra, in Ramgarh district.
Case Insights
The defamation case was filed by a local resident, Pratap Kumar, who alleged that Gandhi’s remarks during a 2018 Chaibasa rally were defamatory and aimed at damaging Amit Shah’s public image.
According to Kumar’s complaint, the Congress leader’s statements were “made purposely to malign the stature of Shah.” The case was brought before the magistrate’s court in Chaibasa shortly after the rally.
Legal Developments
Rahul Gandhi had earlier challenged a summons issued by the special court, which had asked him to appear on June 26. His legal team approached the Jharkhand High Court on June 2, seeking relief.
On June 10, Gandhi’s counsel informed the court that he would be unable to attend on the scheduled date and requested an alternate date—August 6—for the appearance. The high court accepted the request, allowing Gandhi to appear on Wednesday as directed.
Gandhi’s court appearance comes at a politically sensitive time, with the Congress sharpening its attack on the BJP-led government in Parliament. While the case dates back several years, it continues to draw attention given the high-profile individuals involved.
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