Congress leader Rahul Gandhi is being greeted upon his arrival at Mumbai airport ahead of the hearing in a Thane court. Photo: @INCIndia
RSS defamation case: Rahul Gandhi furnishes fresh surety at Thane court
The Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha presented Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee chief Harshwardhan Sapkal as his new guarantor in the case
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Saturday (February 21) appeared before the Bhiwandi magistrate's court to furnish a fresh surety in a 2014 defamation case filed by an RSS activist, naming the party's Maharashtra chief Harshwardhan Sapkal as his new guarantor.
Rahul, who faced a black-flag protest by BJP workers on his way to Bhiwandi in Thane district, reached the court premises with Sapkal and other senior party leaders.
Need for new guarantor
The Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition was required to appear before the court in person in the case following the death of his previous guarantor, former Union Minister Shivraj Patil Chakurkar, who passed away in December last year.
The legal proceedings, which involved Rahul signing a fresh bail bond, were completed within half an hour. Sapkal has been presented as his new guarantor in the case.
Also Read: Jharkhand court grants bail to Rahul Gandhi in defamation case
Speaking to reporters, Rahul’s counsel Narayan Iyer confirmed that the procedural formalities were successful.
"We have full faith in the Indian judiciary and are confident that justice will be served. While Rahul Gandhi has been granted permanent exemption from personal appearance in future hearings, we will present our defence witnesses at the appropriate time," Iyer said.
He said that the cross-examination of the investigating officer (IO) would resume now that the bail formalities are complete, clarifying that there was no examination of Rahul scheduled for the day.
2014 defamation case
Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) activist Rajesh Kunte filed a complaint in the court alleging that the Congress leader, while speaking at a rally at Sonale village during the 2014 Lok Sabha elections, stated that the Sangh was behind the assassination of Mahatma Gandhi.
Also Read: Rahul Gandhi pleads not guilty in Savarkar defamation case
The false remark maligned the RSS's image, claimed Kunte in his complaint under section 500 (defamation) of the Indian Penal Code.
Kunte's cross-examination and re-examination during the trial are over.
(With agency inputs)