An MP-MLA Court in Chaibasa, Jharkhand, granted bail to senior Congress leader Rahul Gandhi in connection with a criminal defamation case filed over alleged remarks made against Union Home Minister Amit Shah during a public rally in 2018.
Gandhi appeared before the Chaibasa Court around 10:55 AM on Wednesday, complying with a direction issued by the Jharkhand High Court. His counsel informed the media that bail had been granted and the legal proceedings would continue in accordance with law.
The defamation complaint was lodged by one Pratap Kumar, who alleged that Gandhi had made deliberate and defamatory statements aimed at tarnishing the reputation of the Home Minister. The complaint was initially filed before the Judicial Magistrate at Chaibasa, leading to Gandhi being summoned by the special court.
Earlier, on June 2, Gandhi had approached the Jharkhand High Court seeking relief from the special court’s directive requiring his appearance on June 26. On June 10, his counsel informed the High Court that Gandhi would not be able to attend on that date and requested an alternative date, proposing August 6. The High Court accepted the plea, permitting him to appear on the revised date.
Gandhi, who currently serves as the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, was already present in Jharkhand on Tuesday to attend the funeral of former Chief Minister and veteran tribal leader Shibu Soren at his ancestral village in Ramgarh district. He later traveled by helicopter to Chaibasa, where a temporary helipad had been set up at the Tata College Ground for his arrival.
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