Rahul Gandhi appears in Sultanpur Court over defamation case

The Congress lawyer argued that the allegations made are false and politically motivated.

Former Congress President and Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, appeared before an MP/MLA court in Sultanpur on Friday in connection with a criminal defamation case related to his alleged remarks about Union Home Minister Amit Shah during a campaign in the 2018 Karnataka Assembly polls.

Gandhi recorded his statement in the case before the Judge. The next hearing is scheduled on March 9.

The case came to light after BJP leader Vijay Mishra filed a case against Gandhi, contending that the latter had delivered an objectionable and defamatory speech against Amit Shah at an election rally in Bangalore.

The court had, during the hearing of the matter, earlier given the Congress leader the last opportunity to appear personally on Friday and record his statement.

Gandhi’s lawyer argued that the allegations were false and politically motivated.

Gandhi, who was an MP from the neighbouring Raebareli LS seat, later met Ramchet, a cobbler, whose father had died from cancer a few months back. Earlier, Gandhi had also visited his shop a year back and stitched shoes there. He later provided him with a stitching machine.

Meanwhile, a large number of Congress workers were present outside the courtroom when Rahul recorded his statement.