New Delhi [India], January 20: The Supreme Court on Monday stayed the proceedings in the trial court against Congress leader Rahul Gandhi in a defamation case filed by BJP worker Naveen Jha. The case was based on Gandhi’s alleged derogatory remarks about Union Home Minister Amit Shah.
A bench of Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta issued a notice to the Jharkhand government and Naveen Jha, seeking their responses within four weeks. The bench also scheduled a hearing for six weeks later regarding Gandhi’s challenge to the Jharkhand High Court’s order, which had earlier dismissed his plea to quash the defamation case.
The apex court ordered, “Issue notice to Jharkhand and the complainant. All proceedings in the trial shall remain stayed until further orders.”
The defamation case stems from a public speech made by Gandhi on March 18, 2018, where he allegedly referred to Shah as a “murderer.” Jha, the complainant, claimed that Gandhi’s remarks were objectionable and defamatory.