Rahul Gandhi summoned in criminal defamation case

Guwahati, Aug 7: A local court today summoned Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi to face trial on September 29 in connection with a criminal defamation case against him over his reported statement on RSS.

In his order, Kamrup Chief Judicial Magistrate Sanjoy Hazarika directed Gandhi to appear before the court on September 29 as his statement published in the media appeared to be defamatory.

Complainant Anjan Bora's counsel Bijon Mahajan submitted before the court that Gandhi did not come to visit 'Barpeta Satra' on December 12 last year but alleged before the media two days later in Delhi that RSS workers prevented him from entering the 16th century Vaishnavite monastery.

Describing this as "blatant lie" as, he submitted that there were no RSS people among the crowd that were waiting to greet Gandhi on that day.

The head of the monastery was also among those waiting for the Congress leader who actually took part in a rally instead of visiting the monastery, submitted Mahajan who is also BJP Assam unit spokesman.

Bora, an RSS worker, lodged his case alleging that Gandhi by making his claim in Delhi brought down the image of RSS in society.

The court has examined seven witnesses, including elected members of the Satra. On August 2, the court had deferred the date regarding issuance of summons as an accused against Gandhi in the criminal defamation case here.

PTI