Political News: Court re-issues summons to Rahul Gandhi

The summons had to be re-issued as the earlier one issued by the court on May 1 did not reach the Gandhi scion

A metropolitan court on Tuesday re-issued summons against Congress MP Rahul Gandhi for allegedly making wrong and defamatory statement against BJP president Amit Shah while campaigning in Madhya Pradesh's Jabalpur for the recently-concluded Lok Sabha elections. The summons had to be re-issued as the earlier one issued by the court on May 1 did not reach the Gandhi scion.

The complaint against Gandhi has been filed by BJP's Khadia councilor Krishnavadan Brahmbhatt. The court, after inquiring into the complaint under Section 202 of the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC), had on May 1 held that there was a prima facie case against Gandhi.

Brahmbhatt's counsel Prakash Patel told DNA that the court had earlier sent the summons to Gandhi, a sitting MP, which was to be served through the Lok Sabha Speaker. However, the Speaker has written to the court clarifying that it is a personal matter of Gandhi and the court should directly serve the summons to him.

"This time, the court has issued summons against Gandhi which will be served at his residence in New Delhi. The court has directed Gandhi to remain present before it on August 9, when the case will be taken up for further hearing," Patel said.

Brahmbhatt has alleged that the Congress president, while addressed election rallies as part of the Lok Sabha poll campaign, had made defamatory statements against Amit Shah. He alleged that Gandhi, while addressing an election rally in Jabalpur on April 23, had said, "Murder accused BJP chief Amit Shah. Waah, kya shaan hai!" The councilor claimed that the said speech was broadcasted by news channels and published in newspapers damaging the reputation of the BJP president.

The complainant has alleged that the statement was false since Shah had been discharged by the CBI court on January 2, 2015, in the Sohrabuddin Sheikh fake encounter case. Brahmbhatt has also alleged that Gandhi was well aware that the statement made by him was wrong and it has lowered the moral and intellectual character of BJP and its president.

ANOTHER SUMMON AGAINST RAGA

Meanwhile, a Surat court on Tuesday also summoned Gandhi to appear before it on July 16 in connection with a defamation suit by BJP MLA Purnesh Modi alleging that the Congress leader had defamed the entire Modi community during Lok Sabha poll campaigning in Karnataka's Kolar on April 13. 
During the campaigning, Gandhi had allegedly said: "Nirav Modi, Lalit Modi, Narendra Modi.... how come they all have Modi as a common surname? How come all thieves have Modi as a common surname?".





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