Congress president Rahul Gandhi appeared before a local court in Bhiwandi on Tuesday, amid heavy security cover and pleaded “not guilty” in a defamation suit filed against him by an Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) leader.
The court framed charges against Rahul Gandhi under Sections 499 and 500 (defamation) of the IPC.
When civil judge AI Sheikh read out the charges against him, Gandhi said, “I plead not guilty.”
Rahul Gandhi, on March 6, 2014, made a speech in Bhiwandi and had said, . “RSS people killed Mahatama Gandhi ji and today their people talk of him. They opposed Sardar Patel and Gandhi ji,”
After watching Rahul’s speech, Rajesh Kunte, secretary of the Bhiwandi unit of the RSS had registered a case against him under Section 499 (defamation) and Section 500 (punishment for defamation) of the Indian Penal Code.
The court had on May 2 asked Congress President to appear before it to record his plea in the defamation case. The next hearing in the case is on August 10.
