Supreme Court stays defamation proceedings against Rahul Gandhi for remarks on Amit Shah
New Delhi: The Supreme Court has stayed criminal defamation proceedings against Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, who was booked for calling Union Home Minister Amit Shah a "murder accused."
A Bench comprising Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta issued notice to the Jharkhand government and the complainant, BJP leader Navin Jha, seeking their responses to Gandhi's plea for quashing the case. The Court also ordered a stay on the trial proceedings until further notice.
Senior advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi, representing Gandhi, argued that the defamation complaint was filed by a third party, which is not permissible under law. Singhvi contended, "If you are not the person aggrieved, how can you have a proxy filing of complaint?"
The case stems from a speech delivered by Gandhi on March 18, 2018, wherein he criticised the BJP and alleged that its leadership accepted a "murder accused" as its president. Following the speech, Jha filed a complaint, which was initially dismissed by a Ranchi magistrate court.
Jha then moved a revision petition before the Judicial Commissioner in Ranchi, who overturned the dismissal on September 15, 2018, and directed the magistrate to reconsider the evidence. Subsequently, on November 28, 2018, the magistrate concluded that there was sufficient evidence to establish a prima facie case under s. 500 of the IPC, which penalises defamation. Gandhi was then summoned to appear in court.
Gandhi's challenge to this order before the Jharkhand High Court was dismissed by single-judge Justice Ambuj Nath. The High Court observed that Gandhi's remarks suggested that BJP leaders were deceitful, intoxicated with power, and willing to accept a "murder accused" as their leader. The Court held that these statements were prima facie defamatory under s. 499 of the IPC.
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
JDU leader resigns from party over its stand on Waqf Bill
Patna, April 3 (PTI): Senior JD(U) leader Mohammed Qasim Ansari on Thursday resigned from the party and all his posts, criticising the party's support for the Waqf Amendment Bill, which was passed in the Lok Sabha despite widespread opposition.
In a letter to JD(U) president and Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, Ansari expressed deep disappointment, saying the party’s stance had shattered the trust of millions of Indian Muslims who believed JD(U) would uphold secular values.
In his letter to Kumar, he said, "Millions of Indian Muslims like us had unwavering faith in you as a flag bearer of a truly secular ideology. However, that belief has now been shattered. The stand taken by JD(U) on the Waqf Bill Amendment Act 2024 has deeply shocked millions of dedicated Indian Muslims and activists. We are extremely disheartened by the manner in which Lallan Singh delivered his speech and supported this bill in the Lok Sabha."
