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.
Also Read: Agitators block highway traffic to protest razing of ashram