The Supreme Court on Tuesday put on hold further proceedings in a Maharashtra trial court in a defamation case involving Congress leader Rahul Gandhi over remarks concerning Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
A bench comprising Justices Vikram Nath and Aparesh Kumar Singh issued notices to the Maharashtra government and complainant MH Shrishrimal, seeking their replies within four weeks. The court directed that proceedings before the trial court would remain stayed.
The order was passed on Gandhi’s plea challenging the Bombay High Court’s September 8 decision, which declined to cancel the summons issued to him in the case.
Senior advocate Abhishek Singhvi, appearing for Gandhi, referred to previous Supreme Court rulings and submitted that the legal position on the issue was already settled.
The Bombay High Court had on September 8 rejected Gandhi’s challenge to the summons issued in 2019. The summons followed a Girgaum magistrate’s order dated August 28, 2019, directing that process be initiated against him on the basis of Shrishrimal’s complaint.
While dismissing Gandhi’s plea, the High Court continued an earlier direction issued in 2021 asking the magistrate to defer the complaint’s hearing for six weeks. The temporary deferment was intended to allow Gandhi to approach the Supreme Court.
Shrishrimal’s complaint relates to a public speech delivered by Gandhi in Rajasthan on September 20, 2018. It alleges that his statements defamed Prime Minister Modi and amounted to direct allegations against all members of the Bharatiya Janata Party and Indian citizens associated with the Prime Minister.
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