In a significant verdict, a Special MP-MLA Court in Sultanpur, Uttar Pradesh, acquitted Congress MP and Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi of all charges in a criminal defamation case. The court declared him “not guilty,” ruling that his 2018 political comments against current Union Home Minister Amit Shah were not defamatory.
Rahul Gandhi personally appeared before the court in Sultanpur when the judgment was pronounced.
Key Highlights of the Case
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The Remarks: The criminal defamation suit pertained to remarks made by Rahul Gandhi during a press conference in Bengaluru ahead of the 2018 Karnataka Assembly elections. During the address, Gandhi referred to then-BJP National President Amit Shah as being involved/accused in a murder case (referencing the Sohrabuddin Sheikh encounter case, from which Shah was formally discharged by a special CBI court in 2014).
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The Complainant: A criminal defamation complaint under Sections 499 and 500 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) was filed in August 2018 by Vijay Mishra, the former BJP District Vice President and Chairman of the District Cooperative Bank in Sultanpur.
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Court Timeline:
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2018–2023: Legal proceedings continued for over five years before summons were issued.
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Late 2023: Rahul Gandhi appeared before the Sultanpur court and secured bail.
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October 26, 2026: The court held the final pronouncement, acquitting Gandhi of all charges.
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Defense Representation
Rahul Gandhi was represented in court by Senior Advocate RS Cheema along with advocates Kashi Shukla, Tarannum Cheema, Prasanna S, and Akash Singh. Following the verdict, Congress leaders welcomed the decision, reiterating their full faith in the judiciary.
