Did LoP Gandhi Appear Before Bhiwandi Court to Sign a New Bond in His 2014 Defamation Case?
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
New Delhi, Feb 21 (NationPress) Rahul Gandhi, the Leader of Opposition (LoP) in the Lok Sabha and a prominent Congress MP, attended a court session in Bhiwandi on Saturday regarding a defamation case initiated against him in 2014.
This appearance is a necessary step following the demise of his previous guarantor, Shivraj Patil.
As per his legal representative, LoP Gandhi must sign a new bond and provide a different guarantor to the court. Advocate Narayan Iyer, who is representing Rahul Gandhi, noted on Friday that due to the passing of Shivraj Patil, the court mandated the introduction of a new guarantor.
During the court proceedings, the Congress MP is anticipated to finalize the required formalities, which include re-signing the bond.
The defamation case, originating from 2014, is presently at the evidence stage. Advocate Iyer mentioned that the complainant, known as Rajesh, the primary witness, has already undergone cross-examination. The second witness, Ashok Saikar, who investigated the initial complaint, has also been examined, but his cross-examination under Section 202 of the Criminal Procedure Code is still pending.
Iyer elucidated that the focus of Saturday's proceedings is expected to be on acknowledging the new guarantor and completing bond formalities, with no cross-examination taking place that day.
Additionally, on Friday, LoP Gandhi appeared at the MP/MLA court in Sultanpur, Uttar Pradesh, concerning a defamation case related to his alleged comments about Union Home Minister Amit Shah.
LoP Gandhi argued that the case against him is driven by political malice. He traveled from Lucknow airport to Sultanpur by road and left after fulfilling the necessary formalities.
His statement was recorded in court, with the total proceedings lasting around 20 minutes. The next hearing is scheduled for March 9.