A Lucknow court on Tuesday, July 15, granted bail to Leader of Opposition and Congress MP Rahul Gandhi in a defamation case related to alleged remarks about Indian soldiers made during his Bharat Jodo Yatra in 2022.
According to his counsel advocate Pranshu Agarwal, Gandhi appeared before the court in connection with the case and was granted bail after furnishing a bail bond and sureties as directed.
Gandhi was summoned as an accused after the court took cognisance of a defamation complaint. The complaint stated that on December 16, 2022, Gandhi, while addressing various media personnel and the public during the Bharat Jodo Yatra, mentioned the clash between the Indian Army and the Chinese Army on the border of Arunachal Pradesh on December 9, 2022, and said that "people will ask what all about Bharat Jodo Yatra, but will not ask even once about the beating of our soldiers by Chinese soldiers".
Gandhi had approached the high court seeking relief but was unsuccessful.Thereafter, he appeared before the court accompanied by the party’s state unit president, Ajay Rai, and in-charge, Avinash Pande. The courtroom was packed with lawyers during his appearance.
Rai told PTI before the hearing that Gandhi was scheduled to attend the court hearing and will return to Delhi later in the day. He further added that the Congress MP was likely to come to Uttar Pradesh again to visit his constituency Raebareli over the next few days.
Security was heightened along the route of his travel and in and around the court premises.
The defamation complaint was filed by one Uday Shankar Srivastava, a retired director of the Border Roads Organisation (equivalent to the rank of colonel in the Army).
The complainant alleged his sentiments were hurt by Gandhi's statement about the alleged beating of Indian soldiers by the Chinese soldiers.
On February 11, the special court ordered Gandhi to be summoned on charges of defamation.
