Overview

• The High Court’s order replaces a June 26 appearance date with a new August 6 deadline and halts any coercive action in the meantime
• Pratap Kumar filed the original defamation suit in July 2018 after Gandhi said a person accused of murder could lead the BJP but never Congress
• Gandhi’s application under Section 205 of the CrPC seeking exemption from personal appearance was denied by the lower court, prompting the high court appeal
• After ignoring an initial summons, Gandhi faced a bailable warrant in April 2022 and a non-bailable warrant in February 2024 for repeated absences
• The August 6 hearing will also review Gandhi’s petition to quash the non-bailable warrant and his substantive arguments against the defamation charge