Bombay High Court refuses to quash summons against Rahul Gandhi in Modi defamation case

A single bench of Justice N R Borkar dismissed Gandhi's petition seeking to quash the summons issued by a magistrate court in a defamation complaint filed by BJP member M H Shrishrimal. The High Court, however, maintained its 2021 direction postponing the magistrate's hearing by six weeks to enable Gandhi to pursue an appeal in the Supreme Court.

Under the deferred hearing order, the Congress leader and Lok Sabha opposition chief would not be required to appear before the magistrate court during this period. This procedural arrangement effectively shields Gandhi from immediate legal proceedings while allowing him time to challenge the summons at a higher judicial level.

Shrishrimal opposed Gandhi's petition in the High Court, arguing that as a BJP member, he was a legitimate aggrieved party in the matter. The court rejected Gandhi's contention that the complainant lacked standing, determining that individuals could seek legal redressal for remarks made against political figures and their parties.

The case stems from statements made by Gandhi against Modi, with the defamation complaint triggering a legal dispute that has now reached an intermediate appellate stage. The High Court's decision maintains the status quo while preserving Gandhi's right to seek Supreme Court intervention.