Congress leader Rahul Gandhi was acquitted on Monday, 26 October 2026, by a special MP-MLA court in Sultanpur, Uttar Pradesh, in a defamation case stemming from remarks he made against Union Home Minister Amit Shah — then serving as Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) president — during a campaign rally ahead of the 2018 Karnataka Assembly elections. The court ruled that Gandhi's remarks were not defamatory, bringing an eight-year legal proceeding to a close.

Background of the Case

The defamation complaint was filed in 2018 by Vijay Mishra, a local BJP leader and former chairman of the Sultanpur District Cooperative Bank. Mishra alleged that Gandhi, while campaigning in Bengaluru, made derogatory remarks against Shah by referring to him as a 'party president who is an accused in a murder case' — a statement Gandhi made in the context of questioning the BJP's claims to clean and honest politics.

The complaint was subsequently taken up by the special MP-MLA court in Sultanpur, which handles cases involving sitting and former members of Parliament and state legislatures.

How the Proceedings Unfolded

In February 2024, Gandhi appeared before the court and was granted bail on personal bonds. Earlier this year, he travelled from Lucknow to the Sultanpur District Court under heavy security to record his statement, having missed a hearing scheduled for 19 January — after which the court fixed 20 February as the next date.

On Monday, Gandhi was personally present in court when the verdict was pronounced, having travelled to Sultanpur via Lucknow. After arguments from both sides concluded, the court delivered its acquittal order.

What the Court and Lawyers Said

The court categorically held that Gandhi's remarks did not amount to defamation under the law. Speaking to reporters outside the court, Gandhi's counsel Kashi Prasad Shukla said, 'We respectfully accept the court's decision, and the truth has ultimately prevailed. Rahul Gandhi had to face many hardships during this period...'

Earlier in the day, the complainant's counsel Santosh Kumar Pandey had outlined the possible outcomes, noting that the maximum punishment prescribed in the case was up to two years of imprisonment, with provisions for a fine or both. The court ultimately found no grounds for conviction.

Celebrations and Political Reaction

Congress leaders and supporters gathered outside the Sultanpur court erupted in celebration following the verdict, with drums and slogans marking what the party framed as a vindication. The acquittal comes at a politically significant moment for Gandhi, who has faced multiple legal battles in recent years.

This is the latest in a series of legal proceedings involving Gandhi to reach a conclusion — and the outcome will likely be cited by the Congress as affirmation of its leader's position ahead of upcoming political contests. The BJP and Vijay Mishra's legal team are yet to indicate whether they will challenge the verdict in a higher court.