Rahul summoned for defamation, complainant tells HC

One-liner: A BJP worker, who had filed a defamation complaint against Rahul Gandhi over his commander-in-thief remark targeting PM Narendra Modi, told the Bombay HC on Thursday that a local court had summoned him after forming an opinion that the evidence prima facie points to an offence.

Hearing deferred: The court posted Gandhi's petition challenging the summons for final hearing on Jan 18, 2022, and directed the magistrate's court to defer hearing on the defamation complaint till Jan 25.

• Rahul was directed by the local court to appear before it on Nov 25 in connection with the defamation complaint filed by Mahesh Shrishrimal, who claims to be a member of the BJP Maharashtra Pradesh Committee since 1997
• Shrishrimal filed the complaint against the Congress leader for his remark targeting PM Modi in 2018 over the Rafale fighter jet deal.

Case made out against Rahul: In the affidavit filed, the complainant said the magistrate had issued summons and initiated criminal proceedings against Rahul as he (Shrishrimal) had made out a prima facie case against the Congress leader.

• Rahul, through his remarks, tried to insinuate and imply that the BJP was a party of thieves and that the prime minister was its commander, he said

Vexatious litigation:  Rahul, in his petition filed through his advocate, said the complaint was a classic example of frivolous and vexatious litigation motivated by the sole purpose of furthering the complainant's latent political agenda.

• He further said the complainant had no locus standi to file the complaint since a defamation plaint can be initiated only by the person who has been allegedly defamed

Source: PTI