Rahul Gandhi Seeks to Quash Jharkhand Court’s Non-Bailable Warrant
He argues the warrant is premature pending a decision on his petition for exemption from personal appearance under Section 205 of the CrPC.
Overview
- Rahul Gandhi filed a petition on June 2 in the Jharkhand High Court challenging a non-bailable warrant issued May 22 by the MP-MLA Special Court in Chaibasa.
- The warrant stems from a 2018 defamation complaint by Pratap Kumar over remarks Gandhi made at an AICC session calling BJP leaders “murderers” and “liars.”
- Gandhi’s legal team contends the Chaibasa court acted improperly by issuing the warrant while his exemption plea under CrPC Section 205 remains under consideration.
- The lower court has directed him to appear in person on June 26 despite a 2022 interim protection order and the high court’s February decision to uphold the defamation proceedings.
- This is one of three defamation suits Gandhi faces in Jharkhand for comments targeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi and former BJP president Amit Shah.