Supreme Court Stays Defamation Case Against Rahul Gandhi Over Army Remarks
The Supreme Court has stayed criminal defamation proceedings against Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi for alleged derogatory remarks about the Indian Army made during his Bharat Jodo Yatra. The case was filed in a Lucknow court by a retired officer. While granting the stay, the bench issued notice to the Uttar Pradesh government and the complainant. The Allahabad High Court had previously dismissed Gandhi's plea to quash the proceedings, leading to his appeal to the top court.
Unpacked:
Rahul Gandhi claimed that the Chinese Army had captured 2,000 square kilometers of Indian territory, killed 20 Indian soldiers, and thrashed Indian jawans in Arunachal Pradesh during his Bharat Jodo Yatra, which led to the defamation complaint by a retired officer.
The Supreme Court criticized Gandhi for making unsubstantiated statements about national security on social media rather than in Parliament, questioning the credibility of his sources and admonishing him for potentially misusing his freedom of speech as a public leader.
The case was filed by retired BRO director Uday Shankar Srivastava, who accused Gandhi of defaming the Indian Army by making public allegations that undermined the military’s reputation and morale, particularly regarding the 2020 Galwan clash with China.
The Supreme Court has issued notice to the Uttar Pradesh government and the complainant. The matter is paused until further hearings, and the bench will review arguments from both sides before deciding whether the case should proceed or be quashed.