Bhiwandi court summons Rahul Gandhi over RSS defamation charge

, July 11: A magisterial court in Bhiwandi in Maharashtra's Thane district on Friday ordered issuing summons to Congress vice president

asking him to appear before it on October 7 in connection with his allegedly defamatory speech against RSS made during Lok Sabha elections.

The court's directive came on a case filed by secretary of Bhiwandi unit of RSS Rajesh Kunte, who claimed the Congress leader had "distorted history" and "defamed" the organisation by alleging that "RSS people had killed Mahatma Gandhi", Kunte's lawyer Ganesh Dharghalkar said.

Dharghalkar said that after hearing him and perusing the police report, the Magistrate held that a prima facie case was made out against Rahul Gandhi and ordered issue of process against Rahul Gandhi.

Judicial Magistrate First Class (JFMC) S V Swamy ordered summons to be issued against Rahul under Section 500 of the Indian Penal Code (defamation) for allegedly accusing RSS of killing Mahatma Gandhi, while addressing an election rally at Sonale village on March 6.

PTI