A Special MP/MLA court in Chaibasa, Jharkhand on Wednesday granted bail to the leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi in connection with the alleged defamatory remarks made by him against Union Home Minister Amit Shah during a rally in 2018.
Special Judge Supriya Rani Tigga granted bail to Gandhi after he personally appeared before the court at Chaibasa in West Singhbhum district of Jharkhand.
A case was registered against the Congress leader on the basis of a complaint filed by one Pratap Katiyar, resident of Chaibasa, alleging that Gandhi made derogatory remarks Shah during a Congress convention in Chaibasa in 2018. Gandhi allegedly accused Shah of being involved in murder, the complainant further alleged.
Calling Gandhi’s statements as defamatory, Katiyar alleged that the remarks were passed with the intent to malign the stature of Shah.
The Jharkhand High Court rejected Gandhi’s petition to quash the criminal defamation case in February this year.
On February 27, 2025, the Chaibasa court issued a non-bailable warrant against Gandhi for failing to appear and participate in the trial. The Congress leader challenged this order before the Jharkhand High Court, which subsequently stayed the warrant.
The Chaibasa court issued a second non-bailable warrant against Gandhi, directing him to appear on June 26.
Gandhi again moved High Court, which asked him to appear before the trial court.