Congress leader and Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, is again in the legal spotlight. The MP-MLA Special Court in Chaibasa, Jharkhand, issued a non-bailable warrant against him on Thursday, commanding his personal presence in court by June 26, 2025. The court took this stern stance after dismissing his lawyer's petition seeking exemption from appearance.
What is the complete story?
The case dates to a political speech delivered by Rahul Gandhi in 2018. On March 28, 2018, during a Congress convention, Gandhi made sharp remarks against the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Following this, BJP leader Pratap Katiyar lodged a defamation case against him in Chaibasa CJM Court on July 9, 2018.
Subsequently, under directives from the Jharkhand High Court, the case was transferred on February 20, 2020, to the MP-MLA Special Court in Ranchi, then returned to Chaibasa's MP-MLA Court, prompting judicial action with a summons for Rahul Gandhi.
Non-appearance in court: A significant catalyst
Despite the summons, Rahul Gandhi did not appear in court, leading initially to a bailable warrant, yet he remained absent. His lawyer's attempt to quash the warrant in Jharkhand High Court was negated on March 20, 2024, and following this, the Chaibasa court rejected the plea for personal appearance exemption.
Possible future implications?
With the court's issuance of a non-bailable warrant against him and an order to appear on June 26, the consequences could be more severe should he again fail to attend. This legal issue not only impacts Gandhi's standing but could also influence his strategic political maneuvers, especially as he serves in the critical role of Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha. He allegedly made derogatory comments against the BJP in 2018, leading Pratap Katiyar to file his case in Chaibasa Court, which later transitioned to the Ranchi MP-MLA Court and back to Chaibasa for further proceedings.
