Archive · 9 Oct 2026
Rahul Gandhi Defamation Case Arguments Conclude, Verdict Date Pending
A court in Sultanpur is hearing a defamation case against Rahul Gandhi.
The case is about words he allegedly said about Amit Shah during an election campaign in 2018.
The lawyers have now finished presenting their arguments.
The person who filed the complaint says the words were meant to harm Shah's reputation and wants Gandhi convicted.
Gandhi's defence says the words were spoken in good faith and without an intention to defame anyone.
The court is expected to decide on October 12 when it will announce its verdict.
Gandhi was summoned to face trial in 2023 and later received bail.
The court rejected a request to compare Gandhi's voice with the alleged remarks, and higher courts upheld that decision.
Arguments concluded Friday in the defamation case against Rahul Gandhi before a Special MP/MLA Court in Sultanpur.
The case concerns alleged remarks about then-BJP president Amit Shah during a 2018 election campaign in Bengaluru.
Complainant Vijay Mishra's lawyer said he gave final rebuttal arguments after the defence filed written arguments.
The complainant's lawyer alleged the remarks were malicious and asked the court to convict Gandhi; the defence argued they were made in good faith.
The court was expected to decide on October 12 when to pronounce its verdict; Gandhi was summoned in 2023 and later received bail.
- Who
- Rahul Gandhi is the accused; Vijay Mishra filed the complaint, and Amit Shah is the subject of the alleged remarks.
- What
- Arguments concluded in a defamation case, with the verdict date still to be set.
- When
- Arguments concluded on Friday; the court was expected to decide on October 12 when to pronounce its verdict. The article does not specify the year for October 12.
- Where
- A Special MP/MLA Court in Sultanpur, Uttar Pradesh; the alleged remarks were made during a campaign in Bengaluru.
- Why
- The case concerns alleged objectionable remarks about Amit Shah during an election campaign in 2018.
Complainant's position
Defence position
Intent behind the remarks
Complainant's position
Complainant's counsel alleged the remarks were made with malicious intent and urged the court to convict Gandhi.
Defence position
The defence argued that the remarks were made in good faith and without an intention to defame anyone.
Admission of the speech
Complainant's position
The complainant's counsel said the defence's written arguments admitted the incident and the speech in question.
Defence position
The defence's written arguments, as described by the complainant's counsel, maintained that the remarks were made in good faith.
- Accused
- Rahul Gandhi
- Complainant
- Vijay Mishra, a local BJP leader and former district cooperative bank chairman
- Court
- Special MP/MLA Court in Sultanpur
- Alleged remarks
- Remarks about then-BJP national president Amit Shah
- Alleged remarks made
- During an election campaign in Bengaluru in 2018
- Complaint filed
- August 4, 2018
- Trial summons
- The court summoned Gandhi on November 27, 2023; he later appeared and secured bail.
- Voice-sample request
- The trial court rejected the request to match Gandhi's voice sample with the alleged remarks; the sessions court and Allahabad High Court upheld the decision.