Jharkhand HC Rejects Rahul Gandhi's Plea to Quash Defamation Case
Court Orders Him to Appear for Remarks Against Amit Shah
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi's request to stop actions taken against him in a trial court related to a criminal complaint was denied by the Jharkhand High Court.
Gandhi was sued in 2019 by BJP employee Naveen Jha for allegedly making disparaging statements against Union Home Minister Amit Shah.
Gandhi's case was denied by High Court Judge Ambuj Nath on Wednesday, but the ruling was posted on the High Court website on Friday.
The senior Congress politician had challenged the ruling of a Ranchi magistrate court, which ordered him to come in person to face trial. Gandhi then filed a motion with the high court, which resulted in a stay order against Gandhi's further prosecution in the lower court.
Complainant Jha had also received notifications from the HC to appear in court.
Gandhi had called Shah a "murderer" at a Chaibasa public address before to the 2019 Lok Sabha elections.
Judge Anamika Kisku found merit in the case against Gandhi after recording the complainant's and witnesses' testimony. She then ordered Gandhi to appear before the trial court on February 4, 2023.
Subsequently, the High Court directed that "no coercive steps" be taken against Gandhi while also granting a stay on the magistrate's notice.
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