The Supreme Court of India, through a bench of Justices Vikram Nath and Aparesh Kumar Singh, granted interim relief to Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi by staying further proceedings before the trial court in a criminal defamation case.
The case stems from a complaint filed by BJP member Mahesh Mukumchand Shrishrimal regarding remarks Gandhi allegedly made during a rally in Rajasthan in September 2018. The complainant alleged Gandhi used terms like 'Choro Ke Sardar' and 'Commander-in-Thief' to refer to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, claiming it lowered the reputation of the Prime Minister and BJP members.
#BREAKING| Supreme Court Stays Criminal Defamation Trial Against Rahul Gandhi For Comments Against PM Narendra Modi |@AmishaShriv The case was over his alleged remarks describing Narendra Modi as “Choro Ke Sardar” and “Commander-in-Thief”. https://t.co/pIeBGDE3MC
The Girgaon Magistrate Court had previously issued a summons against Gandhi in August 2019. Gandhi challenged this at the Bombay High Court, which refused to quash the proceedings, citing no manifest illegality.
Gandhi challenged this at the Bombay High Court, which refused to quash the proceedings, citing no manifest illegality.
The Supreme Court has now ordered a stay on trial court proceedings and directed the Maharashtra government and the complainant to respond within four weeks to the notice issued on Gandhi's plea.
The court’s order stated, 'In the meantime, further proceedings before the trial court shall remain stayed.'
The bench also issued a notice, requiring responses from the state and the complainant within four weeks.
SC stays trial court proceedings in defamation case against Rahul Gandhi over Modi remarks https://t.co/C84VKWckfz
Earlier, the Bombay High Court, in an order passed on September 8, 2019, declined to interfere with the summoning order, as Justice Nitin Borkar noted, 'In the absence of any manifest illegality, perversity in the impugned order, it is not a fit case for interference in exercise of inherent jurisdiction under Section 482 of the CrPC.'
The chronology shows the alleged remarks were made in September 2018, the summons issued in August 2019, the High Court’s decision in September 2019, and the Supreme Court’s stay on October 13, 2026.
Top Court Stays Defamation Case Trial Against Rahul Gandhi In PM Remarks Case https://t.co/LzJCsQ6OHx