Rahul Gandhi staring at 2 years in jail if convicted in RSS defamation suit

During a rally in 2014, Rahul Gandhi had said that the RSS people had killed Mahatma Gandhi. Facing arrest after the complaint was filed, he had moved for bail which was granted.

Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi is staring at a 2-year jail term, a fine or both if he is convicted in the defamation case filed against him. A magisterial court decided to frame charges against the Congress vice-president in the defamation case filed by an RSS worker.

Charges would be framed on July 28 following which the trial against him would commence. During a rally in 2014, Rahul Gandhi had said that the RSS people had killed Mahatma Gandhi. Facing arrest after the complaint was filed, he had moved for bail which was granted.

On Friday when the matter was heard, Rahul did not appear before court. His advocate sought that he be exempted from appearance as he was busy with some assignments. Granting Rahul exemption from appearance, the court posted the case for framing of charges on July 28. Local RSS worker Rajesh Kunte has filed the defamation case against Congress vice president over the latter's speech in Bhiwandi on March 6, 2014 in the run-up to Lok Sabha polls.

The charges for defamation are filed under Sections 499 and 500 of the Indian Penal Code. While Section 499 defines what defamation is, 500 deals with the punishment. Section 500 reads, 'whoever defames another shall be punished with simple imprisonment for a term which may extend to two years, or with fine, or with both."

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