Rahul moves HC in defamation case  filed in Jharkhand

RANCHI:  Former Congress President Rahul Gandhi has knocked the doors of Jharkhand High Court door, challenging the lower court’s order directing him to remain physically present on May 22 during a hearing on a defamation case against him.

Rahul approached the HC after a special MP-MLA Court on May 3 rejected his petition seeking exemption from personal appearance in the ‘Modi surname’ case. Rahul has filed a petition through lawyers Piyush Chitresh and Dipankar Rai.

“We have filed a petition on behalf of Rahul Gandhi in Jharkhand High Court challenging the lower court’s order in which he has been asked to appear in connection with a defamation suit filed against him in the MP-MLA Court in Ranchi.

We have taken a stand that the case does not stand against him and hence, he need to appear in the court in this case,” said advocate Chitresh. Hurt by the statement made by Rahul Gandi terming ‘why all thieves share the ‘Modi surname,’ Pradeep Modi had filed defamation case against him in Ranchi. The MP-MLA Court of Anamika Kisku dismissed his petition seeking exemption from physical appearance saying that Rahul Gandhi has not mentioned any special circumstances for his exemption from physical appearance, while he keeps on moving around the country for party work and other cases.

The court in its dismissal order also mentioned that law is equal for all and thus it is expected from Rahul Gandhi to remain physically president during trial. Incidentally, Rahul Gandhi, who has been sentenced two year imprisonment by a Surat Court, is also facing two other defamation charges in Jharkhand for his defamatory remarks against the then BJP President Amit Shah. One case is pending in Ranchi while another one is pending in Chaibasa.