Why Did Rahul Gandhi Approach Jharkhand HC to Quash Non-Bailable Warrant?
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- Rahul Gandhi challenges a Non-Bailable Warrant in Jharkhand High Court.
- The warrant is linked to remarks about Amit Shah from 2018.
- Legal counsel argues the warrant is premature.
- The case exemplifies the intersection of law and politics in India.
- Gandhi's political future may hinge on the outcome of this case.
Ranchi, June 2 (NationPress) - Rahul Gandhi, the Congress MP and Leader of the Opposition (LoP) in the Lok Sabha, has petitioned the Jharkhand High Court to annul a Non-Bailable Warrant (NBW) issued against him by the special court for MPs and MLAs in Chaibasa. This warrant relates to a case from 2018 regarding alleged offensive comments made about former BJP National President Amit Shah.
The NBW was issued on May 22 after LoP Rahul Gandhi did not respond to previous court summons. The Chaibasa court has mandated his personal appearance on June 26.
Gandhi's legal representatives argue in the High Court that a petition submitted under Section 205 of the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC), which requests exemption from personal attendance, remains unresolved in the same court. Thus, they claim that the issuance of the NBW is premature and legally unjustifiable while the exemption request is still pending.
The controversy originated from a complaint lodged by Pratap Katiyar from Chaibasa on July 9, 2018. The complaint alleges that Gandhi made a remark during a Congress session stating, "No murderer can become the national president in the Congress. Congressmen cannot accept a murderer as the national president -- this is possible only in the BJP," which was interpreted as a subtle jab at Amit Shah.
Initially, the Chaibasa court issued a bailable warrant in April 2022, but LoP Gandhi reportedly did not respond to the summons.
In February 2024, the NBW was issued, leading his legal team to seek an exemption from personal appearance, which the trial court denied.
Subsequently, Rahul Gandhi approached the Jharkhand High Court, which provided him with temporary relief. However, with the situation still unresolved, the recent NBW prompted the LoP to submit a new petition in the High Court.