Bombay HC Rejects Rahul Gandhi’s Plea to Quash Summons in Defamation Case Over Remarks Against PM Modi

Congress MP Rahul Gandhi failed to get relief from the legal trouble arising from his objectionable remarks against Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The Bombay High Court refused to quash a court summons issued against the Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha in 2019. A single bench of Justice N R Borkar dismissed the Congress leader’s plea, stating that it found no illegality in the Magistrate Court’s order.

It may be noted that in 2018, during a public meeting in Rajasthan in the context of the Rafale fighter jet deal, Rahul Gandhi had mocked Prime Minister Modi as ‘Commander-in-Thief’. Following this remark, BJP member M H Srishrimal filed a defamation case against the Congress leader in the Girgaum Magistrate Court. After the Magistrate Court issued summons on August 28, 2019, Gandhi had approached the High Court challenging the order.

During the hearing, the petitioner’s counsel termed the case as baseless and argued that the complainant had no legal locus standi to file the case. On the other hand, the complainant claimed that Rahul Gandhi’s remark not only branded the Prime Minister as a thief but also portrayed every member of the BJP and the citizens associated with the Prime Minister as thieves.

The High Court, however, while dismissing the petition, has given Rahul Gandhi the opportunity to approach the apex court. The bench directed the Magistrate Court to stay the hearing of the case for the next six weeks, which will give the Congress leader additional time to file an appeal in the Supreme Court.