New Delhi, October 13, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
The Supreme Court on Tuesday granted interim relief to Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi, staying further proceedings before a trial court in a criminal defamation case over his alleged derogatory remarks against Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
A Bench of Justices Vikram Nath and Aparesh Kumar Singh issued notice on Gandhi’s plea challenging a Bombay High Court order that refused to quash the criminal proceedings. The Bench sought responses from the Maharashtra government and the complainant within four weeks.
After hearing submissions from senior advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi, appearing for Gandhi, the apex court ordered, “In the meantime, further proceedings before the trial court shall remain stayed.”
The case originates from a complaint filed by BJP member Mahesh Mukumchand Shrishrimal over remarks allegedly made by Gandhi during a rally in Rajasthan in September 2018. The complainant claimed that Gandhi used expressions such as “Choro Ke Sardar” and “Commander-in-Thief” while referring to Modi, allegedly damaging the Prime Minister’s reputation and that of BJP members.
Shrishrimal, who said he had been an active BJP member for nearly two decades, argued that the remarks had wider implications for party members by portraying them as thieves.
The Girgaon Magistrate Court issued a summons to Gandhi in August 2019 after examining the material and evidence submitted by the complainant.
Gandhi subsequently approached the Bombay High Court, arguing that the criminal complaint filed by a BJP worker was not maintainable. However, in an order dated September 8, the High Court declined to quash the proceedings, finding no manifest illegality or perversity warranting interference under Section 482 of the Code of Criminal Procedure.
Rejecting Gandhi’s challenge, the High Court observed that the BJP, as a registered national political party, constituted an identifiable body. It also held that, at the stage of examining the summons, the alleged remarks could not be presumed to have been restricted to the party’s senior leadership.
The High Court said whether the alleged imputation was defamatory in substance and what impact it had on party members would need to be examined during the trial. It had granted Gandhi six weeks’ protection from appearing before the magistrate to enable him to approach the Supreme Court.
The latest order adds to a series of legal proceedings involving Gandhi over his alleged remarks about political leaders and public figures.
In April, the Supreme Court cautioned Gandhi over alleged derogatory remarks concerning freedom fighter Vinayak Damodar Savarkar, warning that it could initiate suo motu action if similar statements were made in the future.
In a separate case concerning his alleged remarks about the Indian Army during the Bharat Jodo Yatra, the apex court granted him interim relief in August against a summoning order issued by a Lucknow court and sought responses from the Uttar Pradesh government and the complainant.
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