THE Supreme Court extended till April 22 next year its interim order staying proceedings against Congress leader Rahul Gandhi in a case related to his alleged derogatory remarks against the Indian Army during his 2022 Bharat Jodo Yatra. A bench of Justices M M Sundresh and Satish Chandra Sharma admitted the appeal filed by Gandhi, and said it will hear the matter in detail.

 

The bench was hearing Gandhi’s plea challenging a May 29 order of the Allahabad High Court dismissing his plea challenging the trial court’s summoning order in the case. While hearing his plea on August 4, the top court stayed till the next date of hearing further proceedings in the case pending before a Lucknow court. “How do you get to know that 2,000 sq km of Indian territory has been occupied by Chinese? Were you there? Do you have any credible material?” the bench had earlier asked Gandhi. “Why do you make these statements without having any material? If you are a true Indian, you won’t say such a thing,” it added.

 

The top court had then issued notice to the Uttar Pradesh Government and the complainant in the case seeking their responses on Gandhi’s plea. Senior advocate Abhishek Singhvi, appearing for Gandhi, had told the apex court that it would be an unfortunate situation if the Leader of Opposition cannot raise issues.