Rahul Gandhi Granted Bail in Defamation Case Over Alleged Remarks Against Indian Army

The case stemmed from Gandhi's 2022 remarks about Indian soldiers during the Bharat Jodo Yatra, where he allegedly questioned public concern for soldiers clashing with Chinese troops.

Lucknow: The Lucknow High Court on Tuesday, July 15 granted bail to Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition (LoP) Rahul Gandhi pertaining a defamation case over controversial remarks against the Indian Army. The case relates to certain remarks made by Rahul Gandhi on Indian soldiers during his Bharat Jodo Yatra in 2022. The complaint was filed by Uday Shankar Srivastava, a retired director of the Border Roads Organisation (BRO).

According to reports, the complaint stated that Rahul Gandhi referred to the clash between the Indian Army and the Chinese Army on the Arunachal Pradesh border on December 9, 2022, and allegedly remarked that people would question the Bharat Jodo Yatra, but not even once ask about Indian soldiers being beaten by Chinese troops. The soldier claimed that this statement hurt his sentiments. The Lucknow court had then summoned Rahul Gandhi in connection with the case.

On Tuesday, Rahul Gandhi furnished a bail bond and sureties as directed by the court, and was granted bail. Earlier in the day, the LoP in the Lok Sabha called the death of the 20-year-old Balasore student an "organised murder by the BJP's system," accusing the BJP of failing to protect the victim. Gandhi alleged that the student, who set herself on fire after facing sexual harassment, was subjected to repeated threats, torments and humiliation instead of receiving justice.