Overview

• On August 6, Rahul Gandhi complied with an MP-MLA Special Court order by appearing before Judicial Magistrate Supriya Rani Tigga in Chaibasa, Jharkhand
• The court granted him bail on the condition that he fully cooperate with all upcoming steps in the criminal defamation proceedings
• The case originates from a July 2018 complaint by local BJP supporter Pratap Katiyar over Gandhi’s alleged 2018 remark targeting then-BJP president Amit Shah
• Repeated non-appearances prompted a bailable warrant in April 2022 and a non-bailable warrant in February 2024, both of which were briefly stayed by the Jharkhand High Court
• With bail in place, the defamation trial will now move forward into evidence-gathering and hearing stages under strict attendance requirements