RSS defamation case: Rahul fails to appear before court

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Congress President Rahul Gandhi did not appear before Bhiwandi Court in a defamation case filed by the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS).

His lawyer has filed an application for exemption.

On January 17, Bhiwandi Court had ordered Gandhi to be present in court on April 23, for framing of charges against him in a defamation case for saying "RSS people killed Gandhi".

On the same day, the court had allowed Gandhi an exemption from the court on an application presented by his lawyer and had set April 23 as a new date for him as he did not appear before the court on that day.

A local Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) functionary, Rajesh Kunte, had filed the case against Gandhi for claiming at an election rally on March 6, 2014, that the right-wing organisation had killed Mahatma Gandhi.

Gandhi had in September 2016, withdrew his petition filed in the apex court, challenging the case and said he would face the trial.

He expressed his readiness to face the trial after the top court refused to interfere with the criminal proceedings pending against him before the trial court.