Top Congress leader and Lok Sabha Opposition Leader Rahul Gandhi was released on bail on Wednesday by a special MP-MLA court in Chaibasa, Jharkhand, in a defamation case pertaining to allegedly defamatory statements that he made against Union Home Minister Amit Shah at a political rally in 2018.
Gandhi appeared in the court at about 10:55 am, in accordance with an earlier order given by the Jharkhand High Court.
"Rahul Gandhi ji was produced in court as per orders of the Jharkhand High Court. He had requested bail, and it was accepted. We'll now advance the process," said his lawyer, talking to journalists after the hearing.
The case arose out of a complaint lodged by Pratap Kumar, who alleged Gandhi had made intentionally made defamatory comments meant to disrepute Amit Shah at the rally organized in Chaibasa.
The special court had first issued the summons for Gandhi to report on June 26. But on June 2, he went to the Jharkhand High Court looking for relief from the summons. His lawyers told the court on June 10 that Gandhi would be unable to attend on the original date and asked the court to postpone his appearance until August 6, which was granted by the high court.
Gandhi had arrived in Jharkhand on Tuesday to pay his respects at the funeral of former Chief Minister and tribal leader Shibu Soren, which was held in Nemra village of the Ramgarh district.
He came to Ranchi from there to Chaibasa in a helicopter, said officials. A temporary helipad had been prepared at Tata College Ground in order to receive him.
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