Jharkhand HC Dismisses Rahul Gandhi’s Plea to Quash Proceedings in Defamation Case

GG News Bureau
Ranchi, 24th Feb. The Jharkhand High Court has turned down a petition filed by Congress leader Rahul Gandhi seeking the termination of legal proceedings against him in a trial court regarding a criminal complaint. The case, filed by Naveen Jha, a BJP worker in 2019, accuses Gandhi of making defamatory remarks against Union Home Minister Amit Shah.

Justice Ambuj Nath of the high court rejected Gandhi’s plea on Wednesday, although the official order was uploaded on the high court’s website on Friday. The legal battle stemmed from a magisterial court’s directive to Gandhi to personally appear before it for trial, a decision which the senior Congress leader contested. Subsequently, Gandhi approached the high court, which initially issued a stay order halting any further actions in the lower court against him.

The High Court had also summoned complainant Naveen Jha to present his case. The complaint originated from remarks made by Gandhi during a public address in Chaibasa before the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, where he referred to Amit Shah as a “murderer.”

Following the examination of statements from the complainant and witnesses, Magistrate Anamika Kisku found sufficient grounds to proceed with the case against Gandhi and directed him to appear before the trial court on February 4, 2023. However, the High Court intervened, issuing a stay order on the magistrate’s notice and instructing that “no coercive steps” be taken against Rahul Gandhi.