Archive · 16 Sep 2026
Rahul Gandhi Defamation Case Complainant Gets Final Chance
A court in Sultanpur is hearing a defamation case against Rahul Gandhi.
The case concerns remarks he allegedly made about Amit Shah in 2018.
Vijay Mishra filed the complaint in 2018.
Gandhi later appeared in court and was granted bail.
The complainant’s lawyer asked for more time to make arguments.
The judge allowed this one final time and scheduled the next hearing for September 21.
The complainant also wanted Gandhi’s voice compared with recordings of the speech.
Several courts rejected that request, including the Allahabad High Court.
A Sultanpur special court gave the complainant a final opportunity to present arguments.
The next hearing is scheduled for September 21, with a warning against further delay.
The complaint concerns alleged remarks Rahul Gandhi made about Amit Shah in Bengaluru in 2018.
Vijay Mishra filed the defamation complaint on August 4, 2018, and Gandhi later appeared and received bail.
Courts rejected requests to compare Gandhi’s voice sample with recordings from the alleged speech, with the Allahabad High Court also dismissing a challenge.
- Who
- Rahul Gandhi is the accused; Vijay Mishra filed the complaint, represented by lawyer Santosh Kumar Pandey.
- What
- A special court granted the complainant a final opportunity to argue in a defamation case.
- When
- The latest hearing was on September 16; the next hearing is set for September 21. The complaint was filed on August 4, 2018.
- Where
- The proceedings are before a special MP/MLA court in Sultanpur, Uttar Pradesh; the alleged remarks were made in Bengaluru.
- Why
- The complaint concerns alleged objectionable remarks by Gandhi about then Union home minister Amit Shah.
Complainant’s Position
Gandhi’s Defense
More time to argue
Complainant’s Position
The complainant’s lawyer, Santosh Kumar Pandey, sought additional time to prepare arguments, citing engagement in a religious event.
Gandhi’s Defense
Gandhi’s lawyer said the court granted the complainant a final opportunity and warned against further delay.
Voice comparison
Complainant’s Position
The complainant sought to match Gandhi’s voice with audio and video recordings of his 2018 Bengaluru speech and challenged the rejections in court.
Gandhi’s Defense
The trial court rejected the request, followed by the sessions court and Allahabad High Court, according to Gandhi’s lawyer.
- Court
- Special Magistrate Shubham Verma’s MP/MLA special court in Sultanpur
- Next hearing
- September 21
- Complainant
- Vijay Mishra, a former district cooperative bank chairman
- Complaint filed
- August 4, 2018
- Gandhi’s court appearance
- February 20, 2024, when he was granted bail after furnishing two sureties of Rs 25,000 and Rs 24,000
- Voice-sample request
- A request to compare Gandhi’s voice with recordings from a 2018 Bengaluru election speech was rejected by the trial court, sessions court and Allahabad High Court