Remarks against PM: Bombay HC extends interim relief to Rahul Gandhi till June 12

A single judge bench of Justice Amit R Borkar extended relief to Gandhi while hearing his plea seeking the quashing of the defamation case. Earlier too, the High Court had deferred the proceedings and granted relief to the Congress leader from personal appearance before the magistrate.

Taking cognisance of the complaint, a Mumbai magistrate’s court had issued summons to Gandhi in October 2019. The former Congress president, however, has not had to appear before the magistrate till date.

Gandhi’s lawyer Kushal Mor had filed the petition to quash the defamation case before the High Court in 2021, arguing that the remark was made against Modi and the complainant was not the aggrieved party. Advocate Niteen Pradhan, representing the complainant, told the High Court bench that some time is needed to argue the matter. “I am arguing against someone (Gandhi) who has been granted sovereign immunity,” Pradhan said.

Mor had said that advocate Sudeep Pasbola, who was to argue Gandhi’s case, was not available and therefore sought that the interim relief be continued till the next date of hearing.

However, Pradhan said that he was answerable to his client, while Gandhi was enjoying exemption from appearing before the magistrate court and therefore sought the next hearing prior to the summer vacation. The bench then continued the interim relief granted to Gandhi till the next hearing on June 12.