Hathras (UP), Oct 15 A local court here will hear on November 13 a revision petition challenging the dismissal of a defamation complaint against Congress leader and Lok Sabha MP Rahul Gandhi in connection with his remarks on the 2020 Hathras rape case, lawyers said on Thursday.
Gandhi’s counsel on Thursday obtained a copy of the revision petition from the complainant’s lawyer after the court issued a notice to him in the matter.
The revision petition is being heard by the court of Additional District Judge Vijay Kumar-II, which deals with MP/MLA cases, after the complaint was dismissed by the MP/MLA court of Additional Civil Judge (Senior Division) Deepak Nath Saraswati in an order dated May 13.
Gandhi’s counsel Bhagwati Prasad said they had sought a copy of the revision petition from the complainant’s lawyer on Thursday and received it.
Munna Singh Pundir also confirmed that the copy had been provided and said the next hearing in the matter is scheduled for November 13.
Pundir, counsel for three men — Ravi, Ram Kumar alias Ramu and Lavkush — who were acquitted of rape charges in the Boolgarhi case, said three separate complaints had been filed against Gandhi on behalf of the men.
According to Pundir, the case arose from Gandhi’s visit to Boolgarhi village on December 12, 2024, when he allegedly remarked that the accused were roaming free while the victim’s family remained confined to their home.
Pundir claimed that the remarks were objectionable as the three men had been acquitted of the rape charges and the family was living under security arrangements.
The Boolgarhi case had drawn widespread attention after a young woman was allegedly raped and assaulted in September 2020.
Sandeep was named as an accused, while the three other men were also implicated, Pundir claimed.
The case was investigated by the CBI and the trial continued for around two-and-a-half years, during which the three men remained in jail, he said.
Following Gandhi’s remarks, Pundir said he had sent a legal notice seeking Rs 1.5 crore in damages, asking for Rs 50 lakh each for the three men. A complaint was subsequently filed before the court.
(PTI News)
