New Delhi : Amidst the uproar over a Kerala Congress post targeting the Chief Justice of India, Justice Surya Kant, Rahul Gandhi has received significant relief from the Supreme Court. On Tuesday, the Supreme Court stayed the trial proceedings pending against him in a lower court. The matter relates to remarks such as “chieftain of thieves” and “commander-in-thief” made against Prime Minister Narendra Modi. While hearing the case, the SC granted an interim stay on the defamation proceedings in the lower court.

A bench comprising Justice Vikram Nath and Justice Aparesh Kumar Singh issued this order while hearing Rahul Gandhi’s plea. The apex court also granted four weeks to file a response to the petition challenging the Bombay High Court’s order. The Court ordered, “Notice issued, returnable in four weeks. In the meantime, all proceedings before the trial court shall remain stayed.”

Earlier, on September 8, the Bombay High Court had dismissed Rahul Gandhi’s petition, in which he had sought the quashing of the summons issued by the Magistrate’s Court in the criminal defamation case. Prior to this, BJP worker Mahesh Shrishrimal had filed a complaint alleging that calling Prime Minister Modi the “chieftain of thieves” was tantamount to labeling the entire party and its workers as thieves, thereby tarnishing the reputation of party workers. While ruling on these arguments, the High Court observed that a registered political party constitutes an identifiable class, and the question of whether the complainant has the locus standi to file the case would be determined during the trial.

In his defense before the Court, Rahul Gandhi stated that he had not named any specific party. He maintained that he had not directly named the BJP or any other political party in his statement. It is worth noting that under the law, the existence of a specific and ‘identifiable class’ is a prerequisite for criminal defamation.

Earlier, the Congress party faced backlash over a comment demanding the Chief Justice’s resignation. The issue arose after CJI Surya Kant, while speaking to journalists on the sidelines of an event marking the 33rd anniversary of the National Human Rights Commission on Monday, remarked that law and order was not his domain. Reacting to the Chief Justice’s statement, the Kerala unit of the Congress posted on the social media platform X: “Dear Surya Kant, if law and order is not your subject, then resign immediately. We will find someone else to take your place who can handle it.” This comment drew sharp criticism.

Although the post was subsequently deleted and the person responsible was suspended, the BJP launched a scathing attack on the Congress over the matter. Union Minister Kiren Rijiju stated, “I had already said that the judiciary is the Congress party’s next target.” He alleged that the Congress intends to destroy all of India’s constitutional and democratic institutions. He added, “All anti-India factions are uniting; all patriotic Indians will also come together.”

Report : Abhijit Tushar Bhatt (Political Editor)

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