Bombay High Court relief for Rahul Gandhi in defamation case

Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi got some relief on Tuesday in a private complaint filed against him for his comments on Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) during one of his Lok Sabha election rallies.

The Bombay High Court has exempted him from appearing in person before a Bhiwandi magistrate court in relation to a summons issued to him last year during the hearing of the complaint.

Justice ML Tahaliyani exempted Rahul's personal appearance and scheduled further hearing on the petition filed by him to February 17. The court has directed the complainant, RSS worker Rajesh Kunte, to file his reply to Rahul's petition.

Advocate RS Cheema, appearing for Rahul, said, "The court has granted interim relief and will take up hearing on the petition on the next date. Till then, the magistrate court has been asked to not seek my client's personal appearance."

In his complaint to the magistrate court, Kunte had said Rahul's remarks on RSS were defamatory. The Congress leader had, during a rally held on October 6, allegedly blamed the outfit for Mahatma Gandhi's assassination.