Mumbai (Maharashtra): Mumbai court on Friday asked Congress leader Rahul Gandhi to appear before the court on October 3 in connection with a criminal defamation case.
The Girgaon Metropolitan Magistrate has issued the summon to Gandhi, holding that prima facie there was a case of criminal defamation against him under Section 500 of the Indian Penal Code.
The summon has been issued against the Congress leader in connection with a criminal defamation complaint filed by a Maharashtra BJP executive member Mahesh Shrimal alleging that Gandhi scion has used derogatory terms against the Prime Minister.
"To, Rahul Gandhi, your attendance is necessary to a charge under Section 500 of the IPC. You are hereby directed to appear in person (or by a pleader) before the court on October 3, 2019," the summon read.
Shrimal contended that Gandhi referred to Modi as "commander-in-thief" during a rally in Jaipur on August 20 last year which was broadcasted on television.
The BJP worker in the complaint stated that Gandhi at a rally said, "I do not want to be the PM of the country, I want to be country's watchman. And today a new voice is rising in the country. There is noise in the street, India's watchman is a thief."
Shrimal claimed in his plea that Gandhi's statements had hurt the sentiments of prime minister's supporters. Gandhi not only defamed Modi but also members of the BJP, he claimed.
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