Rahul Gandhi appears before Sultanpur court in defamation case over remarks against Amit Shah

Mangalore Today News Network

Lucknow, Feb 20, 2026: Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi is scheduled to appear before an MP-MLA court in Sultanpur, Uttar Pradesh, on Friday to record his statement in a defamation case linked to his alleged remarks against Union Home Minister Amit Shah.

The senior Congress leader arrived in Lucknow on Friday morning and proceeded directly to Sultanpur for the hearing.

Uttar Pradesh Congress chief Ajay Rai confirmed his visit, stating that Gandhi had come solely to attend the court proceedings and would return to Delhi soon after.

Ahead of the hearing, local Congress workers put up posters across Sultanpur bearing the slogan “Satyamev Jayate” (truth always triumphs).

The case dates back to 2018, when local BJP leader Vijay Mishra filed a defamation complaint, alleging that during the 2018 Karnataka Assembly elections, Gandhi made derogatory remarks against Shah, who was then BJP president.

The trial has been ongoing for nearly five years. Gandhi had surrendered before the court in February 2024 and was granted bail by a special magistrate on two sureties of ₹25,000 each.

On July 26, 2024, he recorded his statement before the court, asserting his innocence and describing the case as a political conspiracy. The court subsequently directed the complainant to present evidence in support of the allegations.