Congress leader and Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, has been acquitted by a Special MP-MLA Court in Sultanpur, Uttar Pradesh, in a criminal defamation case related to remarks he made about then BJP president and current Union Home Minister Amit Shah during a 2018 election rally in Bengaluru. Delivering its verdict, the court held that Gandhi’s statements did not amount to criminal defamation, bringing an end to a legal battle that had continued for several years. Gandhi appeared in person before the court for the pronouncement of the judgment.

The case was filed in 2018 by Vijay Mishra, then BJP District Vice President, under Sections 499 and 500 of the Indian Penal Code. Mishra had claimed that Gandhi’s comments were defamatory and had hurt his sentiments as a long-time BJP worker. The court summoned Gandhi in 2023, following which he appeared before the court and was granted bail. After multiple hearings and a postponement of the verdict earlier this month, the court finally ruled in Gandhi’s favour, declaring him not guilty.

Ahead of the verdict, senior Congress leaders had expressed confidence in the judicial process, while Rahul Gandhi travelled to Sultanpur specifically for the hearing. The judgment is being seen as a significant legal relief for the Congress leader, who has faced several politically sensitive court cases in recent years. With the acquittal, the long-running defamation proceedings related to the 2018 election speech have formally come to a close.