Sultanpur, December 23: The MP-MLA court in Sultanpur district in Uttar Pradesh recorded the statement of witness Ramchandra Dubey on Tuesday against Congress MP Rahul Gandhi in the case of alleged derogatory remarks made against Union Home Minister Amit Shah.
The court has fixed the next date for the remaining cross-examination as January 6, 2026.
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s lawyer Kashi Prasad Shukla cross-examined witness Ramchandra Dubey. Due to the cross-examination not being completed, the court fixed January 6, 2026 for the next hearing. Hanumanganj resident BJP leader Vijay Mishra had filed a defamation case against Rahul Gandhi.
He alleged that Rahul Gandhi had made derogatory remarks against then BJP President Amit Shah during the 2018 Karnataka elections. Court proceedings in this case have been going on for five years.
Earlier, in December 2023, when Rahul Gandhi failed to appear, the then judge issued a warrant against him. In February 2024, Rahul Gandhi surrendered in court, after which the special magistrate granted him bail on two sureties of 25,000 rupees each. On July 26, 2024, Rahul Gandhi recorded his statement in court, in which he declared himself innocent and called the case a political conspiracy.
Following Rahul Gandhi’s statement, the court directed the plaintiff to present evidence. Witnesses have been presented continuously since then. So far, only one witness has been cross-examined, while the other witness is still being cross-examined. Proceedings in this case are frequently delayed due to strikes and the absence of witnesses.