Rahul Gandhi granted bail in defamation cases

Former Congress president Rahul Gandhi was granted bail by Ahmedabad metropolitan court in a defamation case on Friday. The court has fixed the next date of hearing for December 7.

The Wayanad MP had on Thursday appeared in a Surat court in connection with another defamation case.

In Ahmedabad, Rahul first appeared in the court of chief metropolitan magistrate R.B. Etaliya. A local BJP corporator, Krishnavadan Brahmbhatt, had filed a defamation case against the Gandhi scion for his remarks against BJP president Amit Shah at an election rally in Jabalpur on April 23. Rahul had allegedly referred Shah as a “murder accused”.

In the court, Rahul pleaded that he was not guilty. 

Later on, Rahul appeared in the court of Nirali Joshi, chief metropolitan magistrate, in connection with another defamation case. Rahul had alleged involvement of Ahmedabad-based ADC Bank in large scale exchange of scrapped currency notes after demonetization. Here too, the hearing has been fixed for December 7. In this case, he was granted bail in the earlier hearing.

Before appearing in the court, Rahul held a meeting with party leaders, including state party president Amit Chavda. The Congressmen took Rahul for lunch at Agashiye, a famous place near the court, where they enjoyed Gujarat lunch.