Sultanpur, Uttar Pradesh: A special MP/MLA court in Sultanpur on Monday acquitted Congress leader Rahul Gandhi in a 2018 criminal defamation case over his remarks about Union Home Minister Amit Shah. The court said there was not enough evidence to prove the charge. Gandhi appeared in person to hear the verdict, and his supporters welcomed the decision with joy and gratitude.
How the Case Began
The case was filed by BJP leader Vijay Mishra on August 4, 2018. Mishra lives in Hanumanganj, under the Kotwali Dehat police station area in Sultanpur, and is a former chairman of the Sultanpur District Cooperative Bank.
His complaint was about remarks Gandhi made about Amit Shah, who was then the BJP president, at a campaign rally in Bengaluru. The rally took place ahead of the 2018 Karnataka Assembly elections.
What Both Sides Argued
In the final hearings, Gandhi’s lawyer accepted that the Congress leader had made the remarks. However, he argued that they were made in good faith and without any intention to insult anyone. The defence also said the remarks had been twisted and shown out of context.
The complainant’s lawyer asked the court to convict Gandhi. He argued that Gandhi’s admission of making the remarks was enough to hold him guilty.
After listening to both sides, the court reserved its decision. On Monday, Special Magistrate Shubham Verma acquitted Gandhi, ending a long-running case.
Eight Years of Court Proceedings
The case moved through many stages over the years. Gandhi surrendered before the court on February 20, 2024, and was granted bail. His statement was recorded on July 26, 2024. The court also examined the complainant and other witnesses.
A legal fight over Gandhi’s voice sample came later. In March 2026, an application was filed asking the court to match his voice sample. The trial court rejected it in May. Later challenges were also dismissed, first by the district court in July and then by the Allahabad High Court in September.
Final arguments began on October 6, 2026, and ended on October 12. Additional Civil Judge Shubham Verma first planned to announce the verdict on October 13, but then fixed October 26 as the date.
Vehicles in Gandhi’s Convoy Collide
Earlier on Monday, some vehicles in Gandhi’s convoy crashed into each other on the Purvanchal Expressway in Sultanpur district. Gandhi was travelling from Lucknow to attend the court hearing.
The accident happened around 10.15 am near the 89.5-km mark of the expressway, in the area of the Haliyapur police station.
A police officer told PTI that a private vehicle belonging to local Congress leaders, travelling at the front of the convoy, braked suddenly for an unknown reason. This made the vehicles behind it collide with one another.
Gandhi’s car was not involved and he remained safe. The convoy soon continued towards Sultanpur, with police personnel accompanying it for security.
What It Means
The verdict brings relief to Gandhi after a case that lasted nearly eight years. Notably, the court acquitted him even though his lawyer had accepted that he made the remarks. The ruling shows that the court did not find enough evidence to hold him guilty of defamation.
