The Bombay High Court on Wednesday declined to quash the summons issued to Congress MP Rahul Gandhi in a 2019 defamation case arising from his remarks against Prime Minister Narendra Modi in connection with the Rafale deal.
A single bench of Justice N. R. Borkar dismissed Gandhi’s petition challenging the magistrate court’s order that had initiated proceedings against him. The court found no illegality or procedural error warranting interference with the magistrate’s decision.
The defamation complaint relates to remarks made by Gandhi in 2018 concerning the Rafale aircraft deal. Gandhi’s lawyers had argued that the complaint was frivolous and that the proceedings should be set aside.
While rejecting the plea, the High Court continued its earlier 2021 direction staying the hearing before the magistrate for a further period of six weeks. The extension gives Gandhi an opportunity to approach the Supreme Court against the High Court’s decision.
