The Supreme Court has stayed further trial court proceedings in the criminal defamation case against Congress leader Rahul Gandhi over his alleged remarks describing Prime Minister Narendra Modi as “Choron Ke Sardar” and “Commander-in-Thief” in connection with the Rafale fighter jet deal.
A Bench of Justice Vikram Nath and Justice Aparesh Kumar Singh issued notice on Gandhi’s plea, returnable in four weeks, challenging the Bombay High Court’s September 8 order refusing to quash the defamation case.
“Issue notice returnable in 4 weeks. In the meantime, further proceedings before the trial court shall remain stayed,” the Court ordered.
Senior Advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi appeared for Gandhi.
Gandhi had approached the Bombay High Court challenging the Magistrate’s order summoning him in the criminal defamation case filed by a BJP worker. He argued that he had not named the political party and that his remarks did not target any “identifiable or definite class” of persons who could claim to be aggrieved and maintain the complaint.
The Supreme Court will consider Gandhi’s challenge to the continuation of the defamation proceedings.