Rahul Gandhi Challenges Defamation Case Linked to Karthikeya Singh in High Court

Rahul Gandhi Seeks Relief from Defamation Allegations

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has expressed regret regarding a defamation comment related to Karthikeya Singh, son of Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, and has approached the Madhya Pradesh High Court. Karthikeya Singh had filed a defamation suit in a Bhopal court, claiming that during an election rally in Jhabua in 2018, Rahul Gandhi mentioned his name in connection with the Panama Papers controversy, which allegedly harmed his reputation. In a petition submitted through his lawyer on Wednesday, Gandhi asserted that his remarks were not directed at Karthikeya Singh. Following the complaint, the Bhopal court issued a summons for Gandhi to appear in person. Consequently, he has sought to quash both the summons and the defamation proceedings in the High Court. The hearing for this case is scheduled for Thursday, presided over by Justice Pramod Kumar Agrawal, during which the petitioner presented records from the lower court as directed by the High Court. Advocate Sankalp Kochhar represented the complainant.

Background of the Case

The controversy stems from a speech made by Rahul Gandhi during an election rally in Jhabua in 2018. He allegedly mentioned Karthikeya Singh's name while discussing the Panama Papers scandal, leading to claims of defamation. The complainant filed a case in a Bhopal court specifically established to handle matters involving MPs and MLAs. Following this, a summons was issued for Rahul Gandhi to appear personally. In response, Gandhi has requested the annulment of both the summons and the case through his legal representation, arguing that his comments were not specifically about Karthikeya Singh. The High Court is currently reviewing the case, with the complainant's side presenting records from the lower court as part of the proceedings.