Bombay High Court dismisses Rahul Gandhi’s plea against defamation summons

Justice N R Borkar on Tuesday dismissed Rahul Gandhi’s petition challenging a Girgaon magistrate’s summons in a criminal defamation case linked to his 2018 remarks about Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Rafale fighter-jet deal.

The magistrate issued process against Gandhi on August 28, 2019, following a complaint by Mahesh Hukumchand Shrishrimal, who was described in court as a BJP member. Shrishrimal alleged that remarks at a rally in Rajasthan and a video posted on Gandhi’s X account defamed the Prime Minister.

Gandhi’s lawyers argued that the complaint was politically motivated and that Shrishrimal lacked the legal standing to file it. They also submitted that Gandhi had not named the BJP or an identifiable group.

Justice Borkar found no infirmity, illegality or perversity in the magistrate’s order and declined to interfere. The proceedings before the magistrate will remain deferred for six weeks, allowing Gandhi to approach the Supreme Court.