Rahul Gandhi was acquitted by a Sultanpur court in a 2018 defamation case over remarks about Amit Shah. The case, filed by BJP leader Vijay Mishra, saw several hearings, witness statements and legal challenges over a voice sample.
Rahul Gandhi gets acquitted in a 2018 defamation case. (Credits: Nitin Srivastava)
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Sultanpur, Uttar Pradesh,Oct 26, 2026 12:14 IST
A special MP/MLA court in Uttar Pradesh’s Sultanpur on Monday acquitted Congress leader Rahul Gandhi in a 2018 criminal defamation case over remarks against Union Home Minister Amit Shah, citing a lack of evidence.
Gandhi appeared before the court for the pronouncement of the verdict. His supporters welcomed the decision and expressed happiness and gratitude.
The case was filed by BJP leader Vijay Mishra, a resident of Hanumanganj under the Kotwali Dehat police station limits in Sultanpur and a former chairman of the Sultanpur District Cooperative Bank.
Mishra filed the complaint on August 4, 2018, over remarks Gandhi made about Shah during a campaign rally in Bengaluru ahead of the 2018 Karnataka Assembly elections.
Congress welcomed the verdict claiming, "Truth alone triumps."
WHAT DID BOTH SIDES ARGUE?
During the final hearings, Gandhi’s lawyer acknowledged that the Congress leader had made the remarks but argued that they were made in good faith and without any intention to insult anyone. The defence also contended that the remarks had been distorted and presented out of context.
The complainant’s lawyer, meanwhile, urged the court to convict Gandhi, arguing that his admission to making the remarks was grounds for holding him guilty.
After hearing arguments from both sides, the court reserved its decision. Special Magistrate Shubham Verma acquitted Gandhi on Monday, giving the Congress leader relief in the long-running case.
CASE PROCEEDED FOR 8 YEARS
The case proceeded through several stages over the years. Gandhi surrendered before the court in February 2024 and was granted bail. His statement was recorded in July 2024, while the court also examined the complainant and other witnesses during the proceedings.
Arguments in the case began on October 6, 2026, and concluded on October 12. The court had scheduled the verdict for October 26.
Additional Civil Judge Shubham Verma had initially scheduled the verdict for October 13 before fixing October 26 as the date for its pronouncement.
The case relates to remarks Rahul Gandhi made about then-BJP president Amit Shah at a campaign rally in Bengaluru during the 2018 Karnataka Assembly elections. BJP leader Vijay Mishra, a former chairman of the Sultanpur District Cooperative Bank, filed a defamation complaint against Gandhi on August 4, 2018.
Gandhi surrendered before the court on February 20, 2024, and was granted bail. His statement was recorded on July 26, 2024, followed by the examination of the complainant and other witnesses.
In March 2026, an application was filed seeking to match Gandhi’s voice sample. The trial court rejected it in May, and subsequent challenges were dismissed by the district court in July and the Allahabad High Court in September.
Arguments in the case began on October 6, 2026, and concluded on October 12. The court subsequently scheduled the verdict for October 26, when Gandhi appeared in person and was acquitted.
VEHICLES IN RAHUL GANDHI’S CONVOY COLLIDE
Earlier on Monday, vehicles travelling behind Gandhi’s car collided on the Purvanchal Expressway in Sultanpur district while he was travelling from Lucknow to attend the court proceedings.
The collision occurred around 10.15 am near the 89.5-km mark of the expressway, within the jurisdiction of the Haliyapur police station.
A police officer told PTI that a private vehicle belonging to local Congress leaders and travelling at the front of the convoy suddenly applied the brakes for an unspecified reason. This caused vehicles behind it to collide with one another.
Gandhi’s car was not involved in the collision and remained safe. The convoy soon resumed its journey towards Sultanpur, the officer said.
The convoy was accompanied by police personnel for security as the Congress leader travelled to the court for the verdict.
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