Rahul Gandhi files revision petition in defamation case in Sultanpur

Rahul Gandhi has filed a revision petition in a sessions court against a lower court's order in an ongoing defamation case, seeking a fresh turn in the proceedings.

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has moved a revision petition in a sessions court here against an order passed by a lower court in an ongoing defamation case, giving a fresh turn to the proceedings.

Gandhi's counsel Kashi Prasad Shukla said on Thursday that complainant Vijay Mishra, a local BJP member, has challenged the lower court's order rejecting his plea seeking collection of certain samples as evidence in the case.

The revision petition is currently pending before the court of Additional District Judge (ADJ)-V, he said.

The sessions court has fixed May 30 for hearing on the revision plea and has also summoned the relevant records related to the matter, Shukla said.

Meanwhile, the next hearing in the original defamation case before the MP/MLA special court has been scheduled for June 17, he said.

The revision petition has been filed against the lower court's May 2 order, by which an application moved by the complainant's counsel seeking collection of samples as evidence was rejected.

Advocate Santosh Pandey had sought time from the court to file the revision petition, citing non-availability of a certified copy of the order.

The defamation case was filed in October 2018 by Vijay Mishra.

In the case, Gandhi had surrendered before the court on February 20, 2024, following which the special magistrate granted him bail on two sureties of Rs 25,000 each.

Gandhi appeared before the MP/MLA court on July 26, 2024, and recorded his statement, maintaining that he was innocent and terming the case a political conspiracy.

Following his statement, the court had directed the complainant side to produce evidence, after which witnesses were continuously examined in the matter.

Earlier, on February 20, Gandhi had also recorded his statement under Section 313 of the CrPC before the MP/MLA court.

The court had asked him to present his explanation and evidence regarding his innocence. However, his counsel Kashi Prasad Shukla did not submit any explanation or evidence before the court.