RSS defamation case: Court grants permanent exemption from appearance to Rahul Gandhi

A big relief for Congress leader Rahul Gandhi as a court in Maharashtra’s Thane district granted a permanent exemption to him from appearing before it in a defamation case initiated against him by Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) functionary Rajesh Kunte. The Magistrate will now commence with recording of evidence in the case from June 3 in the defamation suit filed by local RSS worker. 

The defamation case was initiated by Kunte after Rahul Gandhi, in one of his speeches before the 2014 elections, had stated that the RSS was responsible for Mahatma Gandhi's assassination. The remark was made in Bhiwandi in the Thane district of



Maharashtra.

Bhiwandi First Class Judicial Magistrate Laxmikant C Wadikar who heard Gandhi’s application filed through his counsel Narayan Iyer observed that the Congress leader deserves a permanent exemption. “Accused Rahul Rajiv Gandhi is hereby exempted from appearance in the court till the further order passed by the court subject to following conditions,” reads the order, a copy of which was accessed by PTI.  “Accused to undertake that his duly designated advocate punctually and regularly appears before court on each and every scheduled date and conduct the trial in absence of accused,” says one of the conditions. “Accused to remain present in court as and when directed,” reads another.