SC Stays Trial in Defamation Case Against Rahul Gandhi Over 2018 Rafale Remarks

NEW DELHI, OCT 13 : The Supreme Court on Tuesday stayed the trial against Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi in a defamation case arising from his alleged remarks in 2018 targeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the Rafale fighter jet deal.

A bench comprising Justices Vikram Nath and Aparesh Kumar Singh issued notice to the Maharashtra government, seeking its response within four weeks.

“Issue notice. Returnable in 4 weeks. Stay on trial,” the bench said in its order.

The case relates to remarks allegedly made by Gandhi in 2018, when he used expressions such as “commander-in-thief” and “Choron Ke Sardar” while criticising Modi over the Rafale deal.

The complaint was filed by BJP member Mahesh Shrishrimal before a magistrate court in Girgaon, Mumbai. Shrishrimal alleged that Gandhi made defamatory remarks against the Prime Minister during a rally in Rajasthan in September 2018.

According to the complaint, the remarks were subsequently widely circulated and discussed on news channels and social media platforms.

The magistrate summoned Gandhi in August 2019. He later approached the Bombay High Court challenging the summoning order after receiving the summons in July 2021.

The Supreme Court’s order puts the trial on hold pending further proceedings in the matter.