The Madhya Pradesh High Court has brought an end to a criminal defamation case against Congress leader Rahul Gandhi after he expressed regret over an allegedly defamatory statement made during the 2018 Madhya Pradesh Assembly election campaign. Accepting the stand taken by both parties, the Court directed that the proceedings pending before it as well as the trial court be closed.
Background of the Case
The petition was filed by Rahul Gandhi under Section 528 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), challenging a trial court order dated December 13, 2024. The trial court had taken cognizance of an offence under Section 500 of the Indian Penal Code, which deals with criminal defamation, and had summoned him in the complaint case.
During the hearing before the High Court, Gandhi filed an interlocutory application placing on record a statement explaining the circumstances behind his 2018 speech.
According to the statement, he said that while addressing an election rally in Jhabua on October 29, 2018, he had made a reference connected to the Panama Papers controversy. He later realised that the respondent's name had been mentioned by mistake. Gandhi stated that on the very next day, October 30, 2018, he publicly clarified that he had intended to refer to the son of the former Chief Minister of Chhattisgarh and not the respondent or the respondent's father, who was then the Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh. He also expressed regret and stated that he continued to stand by that clarification.
Justice Pramod Kumar Agrawal noted that the applicant had formally expressed regret through the application placed before the Court. The respondent, in a written reply, informed the Court that in view of the clarification and regret, he did not wish to pursue the matter any further and agreed that the proceedings before both courts could be closed.
Recording the submissions made by both sides, the Court observed,
"Considering the statement of applicant... and the reply filed... wherein regret has been expressed by applicant, the proceedings before this Court are closed."
Taking note of the applicant's statement and the respondent's consent, the High Court disposed of the petition and directed that the proceedings pending before the Judicial Magistrate First Class, Special Judge (MP & MLA), Bhopal, in Complaint Case No. SCPPM No. 03/2018, shall also stand closed.
The Court further directed that a copy of its order be sent to the concerned trial court for necessary compliance.
Case Details
Case Title: Rahul Gandhi v. Kartikey Singh Chauhan
Case Number: Misc. Criminal Case No. 13941 of 2026
Judge: Justice Pramod Kumar Agrawal
Decision Date: June 25, 2026
