Congress leader and Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, was granted conditional bail by the MP-MLA Special Court in Chaibasa on Wednesday in connection with a criminal defamation case filed by a BJP leader.
Gandhi appeared in person before Judge Supriya Rani Tigga at 11 am, complying with an earlier directive of the Jharkhand High Court, which had temporarily stayed a non-bailable warrant issued against him. The court granted bail on the condition that he would extend full cooperation during the trial.
The case relates to alleged defamatory remarks made during a Congress convention on March 28, 2018, where Gandhi had reportedly targeted BJP leaders. BJP functionary Pratap Kumar filed the complaint in the Chaibasa court, initiating the legal process.
After jurisdictional transfers between the Ranchi MP-MLA court and Chaibasa, and Gandhi’s repeated non-appearance despite summons, the Chaibasa court issued first a bailable, and later a non-bailable warrant. His plea for exemption was initially rejected by the lower court.
Also Read: PM Modi Unable to Stand Up To Trump, Says Rahul Gandhi Amid Adani Row
On June 10, the Jharkhand High Court stayed the NBW and allowed Gandhi time till August 6 to appear. His counsel Dipankar had argued that Gandhi was unable to appear on June 26, the earlier date fixed by the court.
Since the case involves only bailable sections, legal experts had anticipated that bail would be granted. The trial will now proceed with the court’s directive for Gandhi to remain cooperative through the legal process.