Jharkhand HC Rejects Rahul Gandhis Plea in Defamation Case

The Jharkhand High Court has rejected Congress leader Rahul Gandhis petition to quash a criminal defamation case against him for allegedly calling Union Home Minister Amit Shah a murderer during a public speech.

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The Jharkhand High Court has dismissed Congress leader Rahul Gandhi's petition seeking to quash proceedings against him in a trial court in connection with a criminal complaint. The case was filed by BJP worker Naveen Jha in 2019 for Gandhi's alleged defamatory remarks against Union Home Minister Amit Shah.

Background of the Case

During one of his public speeches in Chaibasa before the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, Gandhi had referred to Shah as a murderer. Following this, Jha filed a criminal complaint against Gandhi, accusing him of defamation.

Magisterial Court's Decision

After recording the statements of the complainant and witnesses, magistrate Anamika Kisku found merit in the case against Gandhi and directed him to appear before the trial court on February 4, 2023.

Rahul Gandhi's Appeal to the High Court

Challenging the magisterial court's decision, Gandhi moved the Jharkhand High Court, seeking to quash the proceedings against him. The high court issued a stay order on any further actions in the lower court and also issued notices to complainant Jha to appear in the case.

High Court's Verdict

Justice Ambuj Nath of the high court dismissed Gandhi's plea on Wednesday, but the order was uploaded on the high court website on Friday. The court held that there was sufficient evidence against Gandhi to proceed with the trial.

The Jharkhand High Court's decision is a setback for Rahul Gandhi, who is facing trial in the defamation case. The court's order means that Gandhi will have to appear before the trial court to face the charges against him.