KKN Gurugram Desk | The Lucknow bench of the Allahabad High Court has dismissed Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s petition challenging a trial court’s summons in a defamation case concerning his alleged remarks about the Indian Army during the Bharat Jodo Yatra in December 2022.

Background of the Case

The complaint, filed by Uday Shankar Srivastava, a former director of the Border Roads Organisation, alleges that Gandhi made derogatory statements about the Indian Army in the context of a clash with Chinese soldiers. Specifically, Gandhi is reported to have said, “Chinese soldiers are beating up Indian Army personnel in Arunachal Pradesh,” which the complainant claims defamed the Army.

High Court’s Decision

Justice Subhash Vidyarthi, presiding over the single-judge bench, stated that the detailed order would be released by June 2. The court found that Gandhi’s petition was not maintainable, noting that he had alternative legal remedies, such as approaching the sessions court. The state counsel argued that a prima facie case was evident from the complaint and witness statements.

Arguments Presented

Gandhi’s counsel contended that the complaint was politically motivated and filed with malicious intent. They also argued that since Gandhi is not a resident of Lucknow, the trial court should have verified the credibility of the allegations before issuing the summons.

With the High Court dismissing his petition, Rahul Gandhi is now required to appear before the trial court as per the summons issued. The case will proceed in the lower court, where he will have to defend himself against the defamation charges.