Sultanpur (Uttar Pradesh), May 17 — The scheduled hearing in a defamation case against Congress leader Rahul Gandhi was postponed on Saturday, as lawyers across Sultanpur were occupied with a workshop and refrained from court proceedings.
The defamation suit was originally filed in 2018 by local BJP leader Vijay Mishra over Gandhi’s purported objectionable remarks against senior BJP figure Amit Shah during the Karnataka assembly election campaign.
According to complainant’s lawyer Santosh Kumar Pandey, the absence of legal representatives due to the ongoing workshop led to the adjournment of proceedings. The case will now be heard on June 2.
Background of the Case
During the previous court session on April 28, witness Anil Mishra, a resident of Pitambarpur Kala under Kotwali Dehat police station limits, was presented before the special MP/MLA court. Gandhi’s counsel, Kashi Prasad Shukla, began cross-examination but could not complete it, prompting the court to set May 17 for continuation.The case has been in progress for over five years. In December 2023, the court issued a warrant against Gandhi, who later surrendered in February 2024. He was granted bail on two sureties of ₹25,000 each by the special magistrate.
On July 26, 2023, Gandhi recorded his statement, denying the charges and alleging that the case was politically motivated.
Delays and Developments
The proceedings have seen multiple delays this year due to a strike by lawyers and health issues affecting Gandhi’s legal team. However, significant progress was made on February 11, when Shukla completed the cross-examination of complainant Vijay Mishra.As the case continues to draw attention due to its political significance, all eyes are now on the next hearing scheduled for June 2.
