Rahul Gandhi, the Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha and senior Congress leader, arrived at Sultanpur MP-MLA court in Uttar Pradesh on 20 February 2026 to record his statement in an ongoing defamation case dating back to 2018.
He traveled from Lucknow with senior party leaders amid tight security for today’s hearing.
Background of the Defamation Case
The case originates from remarks Rahul Gandhi allegedly made against Union Home Minister Amit Shah during the 2018 Karnataka assembly elections, which a local BJP leader Vijay Mishra claimed were defamatory and hurt the minister’s reputation.
Mishra filed the complaint in August 2018 in the Sultanpur MP-MLA court, and the matter has been under judicial proceedings for years.
Court Proceedings and Last Opportunity
At a previous hearing, the court had given Gandhi a final opportunity to be present in person to record his statement. Failure to appear earlier led to the court’s strict order for today’s appearance.
After Gandhi records his statement, the court will decide the next steps in the trial process, which has spanned almost a decade.
Political Reactions and Context
Senior Congress leaders accompanying Gandhi have reiterated their support, while party members claim the case is politically motivated. BJP leaders, meanwhile, maintain the matter should proceed per legal norms.
Political observers note that such long-running defamation cases involving national leaders often have implications for political strategy and public discourse.