A magistrate court in Thane will hear Congress leader Rahul Gandhi's plea for permanent exemption from appearance in defamation proceedings against him by Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) secretary on December 3.
On March 6, 2014, Mr Gandhi had made a speech in Bhiwandi holding the organization responsible for the assassination of Mahatma Gandhi. He had said, “RSS people killed Gandhiji and today their people (Bharatiya Janata Party) talk of him...They opposed Sardar Patel and Gandhiji.” Soon thereafter, Rajesh Kunte, secretary of the Bhiwandi unit of RSS registered a First Information Report against Mr Gandhi.
On December 6, 2018, Mr Gandhi had appeared before a local court in Bhiwandi and pleaded “not guilty” for the charges of section 499 (defamation) and section 500 (punishment for defamation) which can be a simple imprisonment for a term which may extend to two years, or with fine, or with both under the Indian Penal Code.
