New Delhi: The Supreme Court has temporarily suspended proceedings against Rahul Gandhi, the Opposition Leader in the Lok Sabha, regarding a defamation case from Jharkhand. This case originated from Gandhi's 2018 remarks, where he allegedly labeled Union Home Minister Amit Shah a "murderer."
The Supreme Court issued a notice to the Jharkhand state government and complainant Navin Jha, seeking responses to Gandhi's petition contesting a February 2024 Jharkhand High Court ruling that upheld trial court summons against him. Senior Counsel Abhishek Manu Singhvi, representing Gandhi, argued that the case was improperly filed by a third party, questioning the legitimacy of such complaints since only directly aggrieved individuals can file them.
#BREAKING The Supreme Court heard Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi's challenge against the Jharkhand High Court's decision, which dismissed his plea to quash a defamation case filed by BJP worker Navin Jha. Gandhi was accused of calling Union Home Minister Amit Shah a… pic.twitter.com/WGlVD26tQq
— IANS (@ians_india) January 20, 2025
What Is The Defamation Case Against Rahul Gandhi?
The defamation case traces back to Gandhi's speech in Chaibasa before the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, leading Jha, identified as a BJP worker, to file a lawsuit. After an initial dismissal by a magistrate, a Judicial Commissioner reversed the decision, prompting the magistrate to consider the evidence again, ultimately ruling that there were sufficient grounds to proceed under Section 500 of the Indian Penal Code.
Gandhi initially approached the Jharkhand High Court to contest an order requiring his appearance, which was dismissed, leading to the Supreme Court's recent intervention. Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta stayed the criminal proceedings and asked for responses from relevant parties, highlighting the ongoing legal complexities surrounding Gandhi's remarks.
Legal Proceedings
The legal dispute began on March 18, 2018, when BJP leader Navin Jha complained to Rahul Gandhi for his speech criticizing the BJP and implicating Amit Shah in murder. Initially, a magistrate court dismissed the complaint, prompting Jha to appeal to the Judicial Commissioner in Ranchi, who reinstated the matter on September 15, 2018. The commissioner directed the magistrate to reevaluate evidence, resulting in a new order on November 28, 2018, which established sufficient grounds to proceed with a defamation case against Gandhi under Section 500 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC). Consequently, a summons was issued for Gandhi’s attendance.
#SupremeCourt stayed all proceedings against LoP @RahulGandhi in the defamation case in Jharkhand filed by BJP worker Navin Jha filed after the Congress leader allegedly called Home Minister Amit Shah a "murder accused" during 2019 Lok Sabha campaign. @boomlive_in
— Ritika Jain (@riotsjain) January 20, 2025
High Court Examination
The controversy arose from a public speech in Chaibasa ahead of the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, where Gandhi reportedly labeled Shah a “murderer.” Following this, Jha filed a complaint, leading to a rigorous legal journey. Ultimately, the High Court reaffirmed that Gandhi's statements were damaging and upheld the defamation case, rejecting his attempt to evade legal accountability.
Justice Ambuj Nath of the High Court examined Gandhi's remarks, which branded BJP leaders as "liars" fueled by power and insinuated that BJP workers would accept a murder-accused as their leader. The court found these statements to be prima facie defamatory under Section 499 of the IPC, noting they suggested deceitfulness among BJP leadership. This led to the dismissal of Gandhi's plea to quash the defamation case.