Rahul Gandhi Faces Legal Battle as Defamation Hearing Continues

Rahul Gandhi, the Opposition leader in the Lok Sabha, attended a court session in Sultanpur, Uttar Pradesh, on Friday. The appearance was linked to a 2018 defamation case concerning his statements about Union Home Minister Amit Shah. Gandhi took to the witness stand, delivering his statement before a packed courtroom.

The court has scheduled the next session for March 9, where Gandhi must present evidence supporting his defense, according to his lawyer, Kashi Prasad Shukla. After the hearing, Gandhi was met with chants of support from Congress followers as he exited the premises, smiling and waving to the crowd.

The long-running case originated from comments Gandhi made during the Karnataka elections, which BJP leader Vijay Mishra deemed derogatory. Despite a non-appearance warrant in December 2023, Gandhi maintained his innocence, calling the trial politically motivated. He secured bail earlier this year, pledging to contest the charges.