The Bombay high court on Tuesday refused to quash the summons issued to Congress MP Rahul Gandhi in 2019 in a defamation complaint over his remarks against Prime Minister Narendra Modi, whom he had called a “commander-in-thief”.
“This court finds no infirmity in the order.
Justice Borkar said the court did not find any “perversity and illegality” in the magistrate’s order and hence no reason to interfere. Hence, the petition is dismissed,” the HC said.
The complainant was not an aggrieved party and hence cannot file such a complaint, they had submitted.
These statements amounted to direct allegations of theft against all members of BJP and Indian citizens connected to PM Modi, according to the complainant. Earlier reporting noted: MUMBAI: The Bombay high court on Tuesday refused to quash summons issued to Congress leader Rahul Gandhi in a defamation complaint over his “commander-in-thief” remarks against Prime Minister Narendra Modi in connection with the Rafale fighter jet deal. Earlier reporting noted: Justice Borkar said the court found no “perversity and illegality” in the magistrate’s order and therefore saw no reason to interfere. Hence, the petition is dismissed,” the HC said.
Earlier reporting noted: “This court finds no infirmity in the order.
Gandhi, Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, had challenged a Girgaum magistrate’s order of August 28, 2019 for a process against him on a complaint filed by one M H Shrishrimal, who claimed to be a member of the ruling BJP.
The defamation complaint against the Congress leader had been filed for Gandhi’s “commander-in-thief” remark against PM Modi in 2018 over the Rafale fighter jet deal.
The HC in November 2021 directed the magistrate to defer the hearing on the defamation complaint, which meant the Congress leader would not be required to appear before the magistrate.
