Rahul Gandhi, a prominent figure in the Lok Sabha, is set to appear before the special court for Members of Parliament and Members of Legislative Assemblies in Chaibasa, Jharkhand, today. His arrival in Jharkhand was marked by his presence at the funeral of former Chief Minister Shibu Soren. Following this, he spent the night in a Ranchi hotel, preparing for the court appearance. The court session is expected to begin around midday.
For his appearance in Chaibasa, Gandhi will travel by helicopter from Ranchi, landing at the Tata College grounds. Court security has been increased, with thorough checks for everyone entering the court premises. The case stems from a 2018 incident where Rahul Gandhi made allegedly defamatory comments against Amit Shah, who was then the BJP’s national president and is now the Union Home Minister. BJP leader Pratap Kumar filed a defamation suit in July 2018.
Due to Gandhi’s failure to appear in court, a non-bailable warrant was issued by the Chaibasa court on May 24, 2024, mandating his physical presence on June 26. Gandhi contested this warrant in the Jharkhand High Court, which subsequently ordered him to appear in Chaibasa court on August 6. The nation awaits the court’s decision on his bail plea in this long-standing case.