New Delhi: The Supreme Court has granted an interim stay on proceedings before a Maharashtra trial court in a defamation case linked to remarks made by Congress MP and Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi against Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
The case stems from a Congress public meeting held in Rajasthan in 2019, where Rahul Gandhi spoke critically about the Prime Minister in connection with the Rafale issue. BJP member M.H. Sreesreemal later filed a defamation complaint in a Mumbai magistrate court, alleging the comments harmed the Prime Minister’s reputation.
Rahul Gandhi had approached the courts seeking to quash the summons issued to him in the matter. On September 8, the Bombay High Court dismissed his petition.
Challenging that order, Rahul Gandhi filed an appeal before the Supreme Court. A bench comprising Justices Vikram Nath and Abaresha Kumar Singh heard both sides and directed that notices be issued to the state government and the complainant, asking them to respond within four weeks.
The bench also ordered an interim stay on the trial court’s proceedings until further consideration of the appeal.
