UPDATED: Oct 26, 2026 12:40 ISTA special MP-MLA court in Sultanpur has acquitted Congress leader and Raebareli MP Rahul Gandhi in a 2018 criminal defamation case concerning remarks made against Amit Shah during a Karnataka election rally. The complaint, filed in August 2018 by local Bharatiya Janata Party leader Vijay Mishra, alleged objectionable remarks referring to Shah, who was the party president at the time.
Gandhi appeared in person before the court for the verdict pronouncement, after which celebrations erupted with party workers raising slogans and putting up posters. Congress leaders maintained that Gandhi had merely stated public facts.
Concurrently, a political controversy erupted over remarks made by Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge during a public speech, drawing strong condemnation from BJP leaders including Jagdambika Pal. The court observed that the prosecution failed to substantiate the allegations in the case.
Read MoreVIDEOS FROM OTHER SECTIONSLATEST VIDEOSRahul Gandhi Acquitted In Defamation Case; Congress Slams BJP Over Political DiscourseA court has acquitted Congress leader and Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi in a defamation case dating back to remarks made in 2018. Speaking on the development, Congress leader Manickam Tagore termed the case entirely bogus and argued that the judicial outcome defeated repeated conspiracies aimed at silencing opposition leadership.
He pointed out that 48 such cases have been filed against Rahul Gandhi across different states, including Gujarat, Bihar, Odisha, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, and Karnataka, alleging a deliberate pattern to drag him through the courts. Tagore also addressed questions regarding language used in political discourse ahead of upcoming Uttar Pradesh elections, asserting that Congress maintains dignified communication while accusing BJP and RSS leaders of using communal rhetoric and double speak.Rahul Gandhi Acquitted in 2018 Defamation Case Over Remarks Against Amit ShahIn a major legal relief for the Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, a Special MP/MLA Court in Sultanpur has acquitted him in a 2018 defamation case over remarks made against Union Home Minister Amit Shah, who was then the BJP president.
The case originated from comments made during a rally and press conference in Bengaluru ahead of the Karnataka Assembly elections. The defamation complaint was filed in August 2018 by local BJP leader Vijay Mishra, a former chairperson of the Sultanpur District Cooperative Bank.
The verdict brings significant political relief to the Congress party ahead of the Uttar Pradesh elections, as a conviction could have jeopardised Gandhi's electoral future. Congress supporters gathered with celebratory posters outside the court as the defence confirmed the acquittal, noting that the case had been found false.
The complainant retains the legal option to challenge the verdict in a higher court.Fire Breaks Out at North Block in Delhi, Home and Finance Ministry Complex AffectedA fire has been reported at the North Block in New Delhi, a high-security VVIP zone in the national capital located close to India Gate and adjacent to the President's Estate. The North Block houses senior government departments and ministries, including the Ministry of Home Affairs and the Ministry of Finance.
Clarity is awaited regarding the specific department affected as efforts continue to bring the fire under control.Rahul Gandhi In Sultanpur Court For Defamation Verdict, Convoy Collision, High SecurityCongress leader and Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi arrived at the Special MP-MLA Court in Sultanpur, Uttar Pradesh, for the pronouncement of the verdict in a criminal defamation case dating back to 2018. The complaint was initiated by local BJP leader Vijay Mishra over remarks made by Gandhi against Amit Shah during the 2018 Karnataka Assembly election campaign in Bengaluru.
Prior to his arrival at the court premises, vehicles following in Gandhi's convoy were involved in a minor collision along the Purvanchal Expressway in Haliyapur; however, Gandhi's vehicle was ahead and remained safe. Strict security measures were enforced around the court premises, with restricted entry ensuring only advocates and designated officials accessed the venue.
Following the conclusion of arguments from both sides before Additional Civil Judge Shubham Verma, Gandhi appeared in person before the court for the scheduled delivery of the judgment.