A metropolitan court on Wednesday took cognizance of the defamation complaint filed against Congress president Rahul Gandhi for allegedly making a wrong and defamatory statement against BJP president Amit Shah during a recent election rally in Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh. The court also issued summons to the Congress president directing him to remain present before it on July 9.
The complaint was filed by BJP's Khadia councillor Krishnavadan Brahmbhatt and the court after inquiring into the complaint under Section 202 of the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC) held that there is a prima facie case against Gandhi.
According to Brambhatt's lawyer Prakash Patel, the complaint was placed before the court of metropolitan magistrate DS Dabhi on April 26, which ordered a preliminary inquiry under Section 202 of the Criminal Procedure Code.
"Thereafter, the court recorded the deposition of Brahmbhatt and two of his witnesses—Jigesh Dani and Umang Naik—in the case and adjourned the hearing till April 30 and then to May 1 when it was to decide whether to take cognizance in the case and issue summons to Gandhi, or not," Patel told DNA.
Brahmbhatt has alleged that the Congress president has addressed several election rallies as part of the Lok Sabha poll campaign and made defamatory statements. He alleged that Gandhi, while addressing an election rally in Jabalpur, had said, "Murder accused BJP chief Amit Shah. Waah, kya shaan hai!" The councillor claimed that the said speech was broadcast by news channels and published in newspapers causing damage to the reputation of the BJP president.
The complainant has alleged that the statement of Gandhi was defamatory and false as Shah has been discharged by the CBI court on January 2, 2015, in the Sohrabuddin Sheikh fake encounter case. He has also alleged that Gandhi was well aware that the statement made by him was wrong and it has lowered the moral and intellectual character of BJP and its president.
In Jabalpur
- The complaint was filed by BJP’s Khadia councillor Krishnavadan Brahmbhatt
- He alleged that Gandhi, while addressing an election rally, had said, “Murder accused BJP chief Amit Shah. Waah, kya shaan hai!”
