Supreme Court Pauses Defamation Case Against Rahul Gandhi Over Amit Shah Remarks

The court issued a stay on proceedings and sought responses from the Jharkhand government and complainant Navin Jha regarding Gandhi's 2018 comments.

Rahul Gandhi is facing a defamation case for allegedly calling Union Home Minister Amit Shah a 'murderer' during a 2018 speech in Chaibasa.
The Supreme Court stayed the proceedings and issued notices to the Jharkhand government and BJP worker Navin Jha, who filed the complaint.
Gandhi's counsel argued that only directly aggrieved individuals, not third parties, can file defamation complaints under Indian law.
The Jharkhand High Court had previously upheld the trial court's decision to proceed with the case, stating Gandhi's remarks were 'prima facie defamatory.'
The case stems from Gandhi's comments suggesting BJP leaders would accept a murder-accused as their leader, which Jha claimed insulted BJP members and supporters.