Rahul Gandhi records statement in Sultanpur court in 2018 defamation case over remarks on Amit Shah; proceedings adjourned to March 9

Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi on Saturday recorded his statement before a special MP-MLA court in Sultanpur, Uttar Pradesh, in connection with a 2018 defamation case related to remarks about senior BJP leader Amit Shah.

The case stems from Gandhi’s description of Shah—then BJP president—as a “murder accused on bail,” a reference to past legal proceedings in which Shah was later acquitted in 2014. During the hearing, Gandhi denied wrongdoing and termed the complaint politically motivated. The court has adjourned the matter to March 9 for further proceedings.

Congress leaders accompanying him described the case as part of a pattern of political targeting, while party supporters gathered outside the court premises in large numbers. Gandhi has previously stated that the multiple cases filed against him are badges of political struggle rather than intimidation.

The BJP has not softened its stance, with party voices asserting that public figures must remain accountable for their statements.

Legal observers note that high-profile defamation cases have increasingly become arenas for political contestation. For political leaders, courtroom battles now often run parallel to parliamentary debates, reflecting the deepening friction between opposition and ruling parties