Congress leader Rahul Gandhi received interim relief as the Supreme Court stayed proceedings in a defamation case linked to his 2018 comment on Amit Shah. Gandhi’s counsel argued that the complaint was filed by a proxy party, challenging its validity under defamation laws.
BY PC Bureau
The Supreme Court on Monday issued an interim stay on trial court proceedings against Congress leader Rahul Gandhi in a criminal defamation case related to remarks he made about Union Home Minister Amit Shah. A bench of Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta passed the order while hearing a special leave petition filed by Gandhi challenging a Jharkhand High Court judgment that dismissed his plea to quash the case.
The apex court directed the Jharkhand government and the complainant, BJP leader Navin Jha, to respond to Gandhi’s petition. The case will now await further hearing.
Arguments Presented
Senior Advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi, representing Gandhi, argued that under established legal precedents, only the aggrieved person can file a criminal defamation complaint. He contended that Navin Jha, who filed the complaint, is neither the aggrieved party nor directly impacted by Gandhi’s remarks. Singhvi emphasized that the complaint could not be filed by a proxy third party.
The Supreme Court on Monday (January 20) stayed the trial court proceedings in the criminal defamation case filed against Congress MP and Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi for allegedly saying that Bharatiya Janata Party members were "liars" and "drunk with power" and for calling… pic.twitter.com/Sii7s2NM0V
— Live Law (@LiveLawIndia) January 20, 2025
Background of the Case
The defamation case stems from remarks made by Gandhi during an All India Congress Committee plenary session in March 2018. During his speech, Gandhi reportedly referred to Amit Shah, then BJP’s national president, as a “murder accused.” This was an apparent reference to Shah’s alleged involvement in the 2005 Sohrabuddin Sheikh encounter case.
In February 2014, a special court in Mumbai had discharged Shah in the Sohrabuddin Sheikh case, citing insufficient evidence. Despite the court’s decision, Gandhi’s remark triggered controversy and led to the defamation complaint.
Navin Jha, the complainant, alleged that Gandhi’s comment not only targeted Amit Shah but also insulted all BJP leaders, workers, and supporters. Jha filed the case in Jharkhand, and the matter eventually reached the state’s High Court.
In 2024, the Jharkhand High Court rejected Gandhi’s plea to quash the defamation case, stating that his remarks were “prima facie defamatory in nature.” This prompted Gandhi to approach the Supreme Court for relief.
Current Status
The Supreme Court’s stay on trial proceedings provides temporary relief to Gandhi, allowing time for a detailed review of the arguments. The court’s decision will hinge on the applicability of defamation laws and whether Jha, as a complainant, has the locus standi to file the case.
The ruling comes at a time of heightened political tensions, with the case underscoring the ongoing tussle between the Congress and the BJP over contentious public statements and their legal implications.
