New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Tuesday remarked that “everyone is equal before us” while hearing proceedings linked to a defamation case against Congress MP Rahul Gandhi.
The case stems from remarks Rahul made to reporters on December 16, 2022, during the Bharat Jodo Yatra. He had alleged that China had occupied 2,000 sq km of Indian territory and referred to a clash between Indian and Chinese troops in Arunachal Pradesh.
Following these comments, former Border Roads Organisation (BRO) director Uday Shankar Srivastava filed a complaint before the MP/MLA special court in Lucknow, alleging that Rahul’s statements amounted to insulting the Indian Army. Rahul later obtained bail in the Lucknow court.
Rahul sought quashing of the case in the Allahabad High Court, but the petition was dismissed, prompting him to move the Supreme Court in appeal. The matter is being heard by a bench led by Chief Justice Suryakant along with Justices Jaymalya Bagchi and Mohana.
During the hearing, the complainant’s counsel Gaurav Bhatia said Rahul was not a “VVIP” and complained that the appeal had not been listed for judicial hearing despite being listed earlier. The bench responded that it would follow procedure, reiterated that all are equal before the court, and asked the complainant to file an application seeking an early hearing, which it said it would consider.
