Setback for Rahul Gandhi in ‘Chowkidar Chor Hai’ defamation case; Bombay HC refuses to quash summons

Setback for Rahul Gandhi in ‘Chowkidar Chor Hai’ defamation case; Bombay HC refuses to quash summons

Congress MP and Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, has suffered a major setback from the Bombay High Court. The High Court refused to quash the summons issued by a magistrate court in a defamation case concerning his remarks—‘Chowkidar Chor Hai’ (the watchman is a thief) and ‘Commander-in-Thief’—directed at Prime Minister Narendra Modi. However, the court granted Rahul Gandhi a six-week reprieve from appearing before the magistrate court, allowing him time to challenge the decision in the Supreme Court. Rahul Gandhi had sought the quashing of the complaint in his petition filed before the Bombay High Court. BJP worker Mahesh Shrishrimal had filed the defamation case against Rahul Gandhi at the Girgaon Magistrate Court. The magistrate court had issued summons for Rahul Gandhi’s appearance in August 2019. After receiving the summons in July 2021, Rahul Gandhi had challenged the order in the High Court.