Supreme Court stays defamation trial against Rahul Gandhi over PM Modi remarks

Rahul Gandhi Narendra Modi Supreme Court criminal defamation BJP

The Supreme Court of India has stayed trial court proceedings in a criminal defamation case against Congress leader and Leader of the Opposition, Rahul Gandhi. The case involves remarks Gandhi made in 2018 during the Rafale controversy, where he allegedly referred to Prime Minister Narendra Modi as ‘Choro Ke Sardar’ and ‘Commander-in-Thief’.

A bench comprising Justices Vikram Nath and Aparesh Kumar Singh issued notices to the Maharashtra government and the original complainant, BJP worker Mahesh Shrishrimal, requesting responses within four weeks. This legal action follows a September 8 ruling by the Bombay High Court, which had refused to quash the defamation summons issued by a Girgaum magistrate in 2019.

Gandhi’s legal team argued that the complaint was not maintainable because his remarks did not name the BJP or any specific, identifiable group. Conversely, the complainant alleged that the remarks against the Prime Minister effectively defamed the BJP and its members. The Supreme Court's interim order halts further proceedings in the trial court while it examines the petition.

Entities

Bharatiya Janata Party · Mahesh Shrishrimal · Narendra Modi · Rahul Gandhi · Supreme Court of India

Claims

What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.

[● 6 SOURCES] A bench comprising Justices Vikram Nath and Aparesh Kumar Singh issued notices to the Maharashtra government and the complainant. news.abplive.com · pragativadi.com · www.deccanchronicle.com · www.bhaskarhindi.com · www.tv9hindi.com · +1 more
[● 4 SOURCES] The defamation complaint originated from a public address delivered by Rahul Gandhi in Rajasthan in September 2018. news.abplive.com · pragativadi.com · www.deccanchronicle.com · www.timesnownews.com
[● 6 SOURCES] The Supreme Court stayed trial court proceedings in a criminal defamation case against Rahul Gandhi. news.abplive.com · pragativadi.com · www.deccanchronicle.com · www.bhaskarhindi.com · www.tv9hindi.com · +1 more
[● 6 SOURCES] The Bombay High Court previously refused to quash the defamation summons issued to Gandhi. news.abplive.com · pragativadi.com · www.deccanchronicle.com · www.bhaskarhindi.com · www.tv9hindi.com · +1 more
[● 3 SOURCES] Gandhi argued that his remarks did not name the BJP or any specific identifiable group. www.bhaskarhindi.com · news.abplive.com · www.tv9hindi.com
[● 6 SOURCES] The Supreme Court requested responses from the Maharashtra government and the complainant within four weeks. www.bhaskarhindi.com · news.abplive.com · pragativadi.com · www.tv9hindi.com · www.deccanchronicle.com · +1 more
[● 6 SOURCES] Rahul Gandhi allegedly referred to Prime Minister Narendra Modi as ‘Choro Ke Sardar’ and ‘Commander-in-Thief’. www.bhaskarhindi.com · news.abplive.com · pragativadi.com · www.tv9hindi.com · www.deccanchronicle.com · +1 more
[● 6 SOURCES] BJP worker Mahesh Shrishrimal filed the original defamation complaint. www.bhaskarhindi.com · news.abplive.com · pragativadi.com · www.tv9hindi.com · www.deccanchronicle.com · +1 more