Rahul Gandhi Seeks Exemption From Appearance In Maharashtra Defamation Case

In 2014, RSS activist Rajesh Kunte had filed the case against Rahul Gandhi after watching his speech in Thane's Bhiwandi township.

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has moved an application in a court at Bhiwandi in Maharashtra's Thane district, seeking permanent exemption from appearance in a defamation case filed against him.

Judicial Magistrate First Class (JMFC) J V Paliwal on Tuesday directed the complainant, local RSS activist Rajesh Kunte, to respond to the application and posted the matter for further hearing on May 18.

In 2014, Mr Kunte had filed the case against Gandhi after watching his speech in Thane's Bhiwandi township, where the Congress leader alleged that the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) was behind the killing of Mahatma Gandhi.

Mr Kunte had claimed this statement slandered the reputation of the RSS.