A local court in Uttar Pradesh’s Sambhal on Monday has scheduled July 18 as the next hearing date in a case filed against Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi for his remarks about “fighting the Indian State itself.”
The case stems from a controversial statement Gandhi made during the inauguration of the Congress party’s new headquarters in Delhi on January 15.
Absence Of Counsel Leads To Adjournment
The matter was heard on Monday before Additional District Judge (ADJ-II) Aarti Faujdar, but was adjourned due to the absence of Gandhi’s main counsel. A junior lawyer representing him sought more time, prompting the court to set July 18 as the next date for proceedings.
According to Sachin Gupta, the petitioner’s counsel, they also requested the court to direct Gandhi to appear in person at the next hearing.
Statement Under Scrutiny
The controversy centers on Gandhi’s comment at the Congress HQ event, where he stated:
“We are now fighting the BJP, the RSS, and the Indian State itself.”
The petitioner, Simran Gupta of the Hindu Shakti Dal, claimed the remark amounted to an attack on Indian democracy and hurt public sentiment.
“His statement demonstrates disrespect towards the citizens and democracy of the country,” the complaint stated.
Gupta said he had initially approached the District Magistrate and the Superintendent of Police in Sambhal seeking action, but after receiving no response, he moved the court by filing a case on January 23.
Procedural History
Earlier, the court summoned Gandhi to appear on April 4, later extending the date to May 7 for submission of a response. However, with his counsel remaining absent during the May hearing, the matter was deferred again to June 16. Monday’s hearing marked yet another adjournment due to legal representation issues.
With the next hearing now slated for July 18, the court may decide on further directions, including Gandhi’s potential personal appearance. The outcome may carry political implications given Gandhi’s current role as Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha.
Read More: Supreme Court, Delhi High Court, States High Court, International
