By: The Trek News Desk
Congress leader and Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, did not appear before the MP-MLA court in Sultanpur, Uttar Pradesh, on Monday (January 19, 2026) in connection with a defamation case against him. Following his absence, the court has fixed February 20 as the next date of hearing and granted him a final opportunity to appear in person.
The Raebareli Member of Parliament was scheduled to record his statement before the court. However, his counsel, Advocate Kashi Prasad Shukla, informed the judge that Gandhi was unable to attend the hearing due to prior commitments in Kerala.
Taking note of the submission, MP-MLA court judge Shubham Verma accepted the explanation and set February 20 as the next hearing date, stressing that Gandhi must be present on that day. Later, speaking to the media, Shukla said the Congress leader is expected to attend the proceedings on the next scheduled date.
The defamation case dates back to October 2018, when it was filed by Vijay Mishra, a local BJP functionary from Hanumanganj in the Kotwali Dehat area of Sultanpur district. The complaint alleges that Rahul Gandhi made objectionable remarks against then-BJP president Amit Shah during an election rally in Karnataka in August 2018.
The case has been under trial for several years. In December 2023, a warrant was issued against Gandhi after he failed to appear before the court. He later surrendered on February 20, 2024, and was granted bail by a special magistrate on two bonds of ₹25,000 each.
On July 26, 2024, Gandhi recorded his statement before the court, denying all allegations and describing the case as politically motivated. Subsequently, the court directed the complainant to present evidence, following which the witness testimonies began.
According to the complainant’s counsel, Santosh Kumar Pandey, witness Ram Chandra Dubey was examined on January 6 and cross-examined by the defence. He added that Rahul Gandhi will now be required to appear personally at the next hearing to record his statement under Section 313 of the Code of Criminal Procedure.
Source: News Agencies
