NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Tuesday stayed trial court proceedings against Lok Sabha leader of opposition Rahul Gandhi in a criminal defamation case over his alleged ‘Chowkidar chor hai’ remarks against Prime Minister Narendra Modi.The court also issued a notice on Rahul’s plea challenging the Bombay high court’s order refusing to quash the defamation case.“Issue notice returnable in four weeks. Further proceedings before the trial court shall remain stayed,” news agency PTI quoted the bench saying.
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Senior advocate Abhishek Singhvi, appearing for Rahul, cited earlier Supreme Court judgments and argued that the law on the matter was settled. The bench posted the case for further hearing after four weeks.The Bombay HC, on September 8, refused to quash the summons issued to Rahul in 2019, dismissing his challenge to a Girgaum magistrate’s order dated August 28, 2019.However, it extended its 2021 order directing the magistrate to defer proceedings for six weeks to allow the Congress leader to approach the Supreme Court.The complaint was filed by BJP worker Mahesh Shrishrimal over Rahul’s speech in Rajasthan on September 20, 2018. Shrishrimal argued that, as a BJP member, he was aggrieved by remarks against the party’s leader.The complaint alleged that Rahul’s statements defamed PM Modi and amounted to allegations against BJP members and Indian citizens associated with him.