Supreme Court Extends Interim Stay on Rahul Gandhi Defamation Trial Until April 2026
Supreme Court halts defamation trial against Gandhi over alleged military insults.
The Supreme Court of India on December 4, 2025, extended its interim stay on trial court proceedings against Congress leader and Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi until April 22, 2026, in a defamation case stemming from his purported derogatory comments about the Indian Army during the 2022 Bharat Jodo Yatra. A bench comprising Justices M.M. Sundresh and Satish Chandra Sharma admitted Gandhi's special leave petition challenging the Allahabad High Court's May 29, 2025, dismissal of his plea against the summoning order issued by a Lucknow magistrate.
The case originates from a complaint filed by Uttar Pradesh resident Udai Shanker Srivastava, who alleged that Gandhi's statements during a December 2022 event in Lucknow—made in the context of India-China border clashes—defamed and demoralized the armed forces by implying territorial losses to China without evidence. The trial court had summoned Gandhi under Sections 499 and 500 of the Indian Penal Code for defamation, prompting his appeal on grounds that no prior hearing was afforded and the allegations lacked prima facie veracity.
During an August 4, 2025, hearing, the apex court bench sharply questioned Gandhi's basis for claiming Chinese occupation of 2,000 square kilometers of Indian territory, remarking, "How do you get to know that? Were you there? Do you have any credible material?" The justices further admonished, "Why do you make these statements without having any material? If you are a true Indian, you won't say such a thing," while issuing notices to the Uttar Pradesh government and the complainant.
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Representing Gandhi, senior advocate Abhishek Singhvi contended that restricting the Leader of Opposition from raising national security concerns would undermine democratic discourse, citing Section 223 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita as mandating a pre-cognizance hearing for the accused. Co-counsel Pranshu Agarwal argued the complaint appeared fabricated and emphasized Gandhi's non-residency in Lucknow, insisting the trial court failed to scrutinize the claims before issuing summons.
The extension provides temporary relief amid ongoing political scrutiny, with the court scheduling a detailed hearing for next April to adjudicate the merits of Gandhi's challenge. This development underscores persistent tensions over public discourse on border security and the judiciary's role in balancing free speech against institutional honor.
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