New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Tuesday stayed the trial court proceedings against Leader of the Opposition (LoP) in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, in a criminal defamation case over his alleged ‘Chowkidar Chor Hai’ remarks against Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
A bench comprising Justices Vikram Nath and Aparesh Kumar Singh also issued notices to the Maharashtra government and complainant MH Shrishrimal, seeking their responses within four weeks.
Gandhi’s plea challenged the September 8 Bombay High Court order that refused to quash the defamation case.
The criminal defamation case was filed against the Congress leader over his 2018 remarks targeting the Prime Minister in connection with the Rafale fighter jet deal.
“Issue notice. Returnable in four weeks. Stay on trial,” the bench ordered. Senior advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi appeared for the Raebareli MP.
The case stems from a complaint filed by BJP member Mahesh Shrishrimal, who alleged that Gandhi made defamatory remarks against Modi at a rally in Rajasthan in September 2018.
The Bombay High Court had dismissed Gandhi’s petition challenging a Girgaon Magistrate’s order dated August 28, 2019, initiating proceedings against him on Shrishrimal’s complaint.
However, the High Court continued its 2021 order directing the Magistrate to defer the hearing on the complaint for six weeks to allow Gandhi to approach the Supreme Court.
The complainant claimed that the remarks led to Modi being trolled across news channels and social media platforms.
