Non-Bailable Warrant Issued Against Rahul Gandhi in 2018 Defamation Case

shibnathkhan

In a major legal development, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi is under fresh scrutiny as a special MP-MLA court in Chaibasa, Jharkhand, issues a non-bailable warrant against him in a long-standing 2018 defamation case. The case, rooted in remarks allegedly targeting then-BJP president Amit Shah during a Congress plenary session, has gained renewed attention as Gandhi has been directed to appear personally before the court on June 26, 2025. Filed by BJP leader Pratap Katiyar, the case alleges that Gandhi’s comments defamed not only Shah but also the broader BJP community. The legal proceedings have seen multiple delays, warrant issuances, and exemption pleas, with the case shifting between various courts before returning to Chaibasa. Despite earlier bailable warrants and temporary stays, Gandhi’s repeated absence has now prompted stricter action. Adding to the pressure, Rahul Gandhi is simultaneously fighting a parallel defamation case in Sultanpur, Uttar Pradesh, on similar grounds. The Sultanpur matter, filed by BJP leader Vijay Mishra, is also progressing, with the next hearing set for June 2, 2025. With political temperatures rising ahead of future elections, these cases carry heavy implications for both the Congress party and the national political climate. While the BJP insists on legal accountability, the Congress claims political vendetta. Stay informed on this unfolding political and legal drama only on Democratic News TV. Follow us for real-time updates, expert analysis, and comprehensive reports. Anchored by Shibnath, we bring you the truth behind the headlines.  KEY WORDS: Rahul Gandhi defamation case Non-bailable warrant Rahul Gandhi Rahul Gandhi 2018 Congress speech Amit Shah defamation controversy Chaibasa MP-MLA court news Rahul Gandhi legal battle 2025 BJP vs Congress defamation Rahul Gandhi court appearance June 26 Political conspiracy allegations India Rahul Gandhi vs Amit Shah Sultanpur defamation case update Rahul Gandhi latest news today Congress leader court summons Indian political legal news BJP defamation case 2018 Rahul Gandhi controversy timeline Rahul Gandhi arrest warrant Indian MP legal case 2025 Rahul Gandhi exemption plea rejected Rahul Gandhi political controversy  HASH TAGS: #RahulGandhi #DefamationCase #RahulGandhiCase #NonBailableWarrant #AmitShah #CongressVsBJP #IndianPolitics #PoliticalControversy #RahulGandhiNews #MPMLACourt #ChaibasaCourt #SultanpurCase #RahulGandhiSpeech #2025PoliticalDrama #DemocraticNewsTV #ShibnathKhan

Transcript

00:00this channel does not promote any violent harmful or illegal activities all content

00:22provided by this channel is meant for an educational purpose only.

00:52The legal pressure on the prominent opposition leader intensifies.

00:57What led to this moment and what's next?

01:00Let's explore the full timeline.

01:04Congress leader Rahul Gandhi is facing renewed legal scrutiny after a special MP MLA court

01:09in Chaibasa, Jharkhand issued a non-billable warrant against him in a defamation case stemming

01:15from remarks he made during a Congress plenary session in 2018.

01:21The court has directed the senior Congress MP to appear in person on 26 June, rejecting

01:27his plea for exemption from personal appearance.

01:31The case, rooted in controversial comments targeting then-BJP President Amit Shah, has been ongoing

01:37for nearly seven years, marking yet another chapter in Gandhi's prolonged legal battles.

01:44Background of the case

01:47The defamation case was filed by Bharatiya Janata Party leader Pratap Gatyar following

01:52a speech made by Rahul Gandhi at a Congress event in 2018.

01:58During the plenary session, Gandhi allegedly said, no murderer can become the national president

02:04in Congress.

02:07Congressmen cannot accept the murderer as the national president.

02:10This is possible only in the BJP.

02:14These remarks were perceived as directly targeting Amit Shah, who at that time was the president

02:20of the BJP and had previously faced allegations related to the Sohrabuddin Sheikh encounter case,

02:26from which he was later acquitted.

02:29Pratap Gatyar filed the defamation complaint on 9 July 2018, before the Chief Judicial Magistrate

02:36CJM in Chaibasa, arguing that Gandhi's statements were defamatory and insulting not just to Shah,

02:43but to all BJP members.

02:46Legal Proceedings and Delays

02:49Initially, the case proceeded in the CJM court in Chaibasa.

02:54However, following a directive from the Jharkhand High Court in 2020, the case was transferred

03:00to the MPMLA court in Ranchi for jurisdictional reasons.

03:05After some time, it was redirected back to the MPMLA court in Chaibasa, where the magistrate

03:11formally took connoissance and summoned Gandhi.

03:15Despite multiple court summonses over the years, Gandhi failed to appear.

03:21In response, the court issued a bailable warrant in April 2022.

03:26When Gandhi still did not respond, the matter escalated further.

03:31His legal team then approached the Jharkhand High Court seeking a stay on the warrant, and

03:36the court granted temporary relief, staying the warrant for several months.

03:42In March 2024, the High Court disposed of Gandhi's plea, allowing the trial to resume

03:48at the lower court.

03:50As the case moved forward, Gandhi's legal counsel once again requested exemption from

03:56personal appearance, but the Chaibasa court rejected the application.

04:02Following this repeated absence and the rejection of exemption pleas, the Chaibasa MPMLA court took

04:07a stricter stance and issued a non-bailable warrant in May 2025, ordering Rahul Gandhi to appear

04:14before the court on 26 June.

04:22In addition to the Chaibasa proceedings, Rahul Gandhi is also entangled in a similar defamation

04:28case in Sultanpur, Uttar Pradesh, filed by local BJP leader Vijay Mishra.

04:34This case also stems from his 2018 remarks against Amit Shah during the Karnatic Assembly elections.

04:42Mishra claimed Gandhi's comments were defamatory and hurt the sentiments of BJP supporters.

04:49The Sultanpur case has also seen multiple delays.

04:53A hearing scheduled for 17 May 2025 was postponed due to a lawyer's workshop, pushing the next

05:00court date to 2 June 2025.

05:04Earlier, on 28th April, the court conducted a cross-examination of a witness, Anil Mishra,

05:12presented by the complainant's lawyer, Santosh Kumar Pandey.

05:16However, the session remained incomplete.

05:19Notably, in December 2023, after over 5 years of back-and-forth litigation, the Sultanpur court

05:27issued a warrant against Gandhi.

05:30He voluntarily surrendered before the court in February 2024 and was granted bail upon providing

05:36to shorties of Rs. 25,000 each.

05:40During his court appearance on 26th July 2024, Rahul Gandhi claimed innocents, calling the defamation

05:48charges political conspiracy.

05:52Multiple hearings in the Sultanpur case were earlier delayed due to a strike by lawyers and

05:57the ill health of Gandhi's legal counsel.

05:59Gandhi's lawyer, Kashi Prasad Shukla, eventually completed the cross-examination of the complainant

06:06on 11 February 2025.

06:11Implications and Political Reactions

06:14The issuance of a non-bailable warrant against a sitting member of parliament and prominent

06:19opposition leader is a significant development, particularly as political tensions remain high

06:25in the lead-up to future elections.

06:28While Gandhi and his party maintain that these legal actions are politically motivated, the

06:33BJP asserts that the cases are legitimate responses to defamatory speech.

06:40Gandhi's statements have repeatedly drawn sharp reactions from BJP leaders who argue that

06:45his rhetoric crosses the line into personal attacks and misinformation.

06:50Meanwhile, Congress supporters view the legal challenges as part of a broader strategy

06:55to stifle dissent and weaken opposition voices.

07:02With the Chaibasa court setting 26 June as the date for Rahul Gandhi's personal appearance,

07:08all eyes are on how he and his legal team respond.

07:12If he fails to appear, further legal action, potentially including arrest, could follow.

07:18The Sultanpur case also resumes shortly thereafter, on 2 June, and may influence the political discourse

07:26in the weeks ahead.

07:28As the legal saga unfolds, Rahul Gandhi finds himself not only defending his statements in court

07:35but also navigating the complex intersection of law and politics in modern India.

07:41Whether these cases conclude with conviction, acquittal, or further appeals, they are likely to remain

07:47central to public and political debate for months to come.

07:50As Rahul Gandhi's legal troubles the pain, the courtroom battles surrounding his 2018 remarks continue

07:58to shape the national political narrative.

08:01With key hearings approaching in both Chaibasa and Sultanpur, the stakes are high not just for Gandhi

08:09but for the broader democratic discourse.

08:11We'll be tracking every development closely.

08:15That's all for now.

08:18Stay tuned to Democratic News TV for accurate, in-depth coverage.

08:23I'm Shibnath.

08:26Jai Hind!

Category

Transcript

Recommended