Sultanpur | January 19, 2026

Congress leader and Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, did not appear before the MP-MLA court in Sultanpur on Monday in connection with a long-running defamation case. The court has now fixed February 20 as the next date of hearing and granted him a final opportunity to appear in person.

Rahul Gandhi, who is also the Member of Parliament from Raebareli, was scheduled to record his statement before the court. However, his lawyer, Kashi Prasad Shukla, informed the judge that the Congress leader could not attend the hearing as he was in Kerala due to prior commitments. Taking note of the request, MP-MLA court judge Shubham Verma accepted the explanation and rescheduled the hearing.

Speaking to reporters later, Mr. Shukla said that Rahul Gandhi’s absence was unavoidable and confirmed that he is expected to be present in court on the next date. The court made it clear that February 20 would be a crucial hearing in the case.

The defamation case dates back to October 2018, when local BJP leader Vijay Mishra filed a complaint against Rahul Gandhi. The complainant alleged that during an election rally in Karnataka in August 2018, Mr. Gandhi made objectionable remarks against then BJP president Amit Shah.

The case has seen several developments over the years. In December 2023, the court had issued a warrant against Rahul Gandhi for non-appearance. He later surrendered before the court on February 20, 2024, and was granted bail after submitting two bonds of ₹25,000 each.

On July 26, 2024, Rahul Gandhi recorded his statement and rejected all allegations, calling the case politically motivated. Since then, the court has been hearing evidence from the complainant’s side. According to the complainant’s lawyer, Santosh Kumar Pandey, witness testimony has already begun, and Rahul Gandhi will now be required to appear personally to record his statement under Section 313 of the Criminal Procedure Code at the next hearing.

Rahul Gandhi Skips Sultanpur Court Hearing, February 20 Set as Final Date

Congress leader and Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi did not appear before the MP-MLA court in Sultanpur on Monday in a defamation case filed against him. The court noted his absence and fixed February 20 as the next hearing, giving him a final chance to be present in person.

According to his lawyer, Rahul Gandhi was unable to attend the hearing due to prior commitments in Kerala. The court accepted this explanation but made it clear that the Congress leader must appear on the next date for further proceedings.

The case was filed in 2018 by BJP worker Vijay Mishra, who accused Rahul Gandhi of making objectionable remarks against then BJP president Amit Shah during an election campaign in Karnataka. The matter has been under trial for several years.

Earlier, a warrant had been issued against Rahul Gandhi for not appearing in court, after which he surrendered and was granted bail in February 2024. He has denied all charges, calling the case politically motivated. The court has now directed him to appear for recording his statement at the next hearing.