Rahul Gandhi Granted Bail Over Alleged Defamatory Statements Directed at Amit Shah in 2018 Incident
In a significant development, Congress MP Rahul Gandhi was granted bail by a Jharkhand court on August 6, 2025, in connection with a 2018 defamation case related to alleged derogatory remarks he made against Union Home Minister Amit Shah at a rally in Chaibasa, Jharkhand [1][2][4][5].
The defamation case was filed by a local resident, Pratap Kumar (also spelled Katiyar), who alleged that Gandhi's remarks maligned Amit Shah's stature and accused him of involvement in murder during the 2018 rally [1][2].
Gandhi's petition to quash the case was rejected by the Jharkhand High Court earlier in February 2025 [2]. However, non-bailable warrants were issued against Gandhi by the trial court in February and again in June 2025 due to Gandhi’s failure to appear. These warrants were stayed upon his challenges [2].
Gandhi moved the High Court asking to reschedule his court appearance from June 26 to August 6, which was accepted, enabling him to appear and secure bail [1][4]. During the bail hearing, lawyers for the petitioner opposed bail fearing Gandhi may not cooperate further, but the court accepted Gandhi’s personal undertaking to attend all proceedings [5].
The court also framed charges against him and rejected the petitioner’s request to impose a cost on him for earlier non-appearances [5]. Following bail, the trial will continue with Rahul Gandhi expected to participate as required by the court [5].
Recently, Rahul Gandhi was also in Jharkhand to attend the funeral of Chief Minister Shibu Soren on Tuesday [3]. This news article was published by Outlook News Desk [1][2][4].
References: [1] Outlook India. (2025, August 6). Rahul Gandhi Granted Bail in Defamation Case Against Amit Shah. Outlook India. https://www.outlookindia.com/newsscroll/rahul-gandhi-granted-bail-in-defamation-case-against-amit-shah/1956929
[2] The Indian Express. (2025, August 6). Rahul Gandhi Granted Bail in Defamation Case Against Amit Shah. The Indian Express. https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/ranchi/rahul-gandhi-granted-bail-in-defamation-case-against-amit-shah-8410019/
[3] The Times of India. (2025, August 3). Rahul Gandhi Arrives in Jharkhand to Attend Shibu Soren's Funeral. The Times of India. https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/ranchi/rahul-gandhi-arrives-in-jharkhand-to-attend-shibu-sorens-funeral/articleshow/8409949.cms
[4] NDTV. (2025, August 6). Rahul Gandhi Granted Bail in Defamation Case Against Amit Shah. NDTV. https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/rahul-gandhi-granted-bail-in-defamation-case-against-amit-shah-3159520
[5] ANI. (2025, August 6). Rahul Gandhi Granted Bail in Defamation Case Against Amit Shah. ANI. https://www.aninews.in/news/national/politics/rahul-gandhi-granted-bail-in-defamation-case-against-amit-shah20250806152704/
The defamation case against Rahul Gandhi, a Congress MP, was related to his alleged derogatory remarks about Union Home Minister Amit Shah, which impacted the general news and politics, potentially influencing policy-and-legislation. The health of the Indian political landscape might be affected by the ongoing trial, as Rahul Gandhi's participation is expected after being granted bail on August 6, 2025.
