Rahul Gandhi moves Supreme Court against criminal defamation

Plea comes in the aftermath of a Bhiwandi court summons in 2014 on a speech he made allegedly making RSS liable for the assassination of Mahatma Gandhi.

Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday moved the Supreme Court against criminal defamation, calling it violative of free speech.

In a petition, Mr. Gandhi said it imposed unreasonable restriction on his fundamental right to free speech and expression.

The petition comes in the aftermath of

>summons issued to him under Sections 499 and 500 of the IPC by a Bhiwandi court in 2014.

The court action came on a

>speech he made allegedly making RSS liable for the assassination of Mahatma Gandhi.

Noting that the provisions have a chilling effect on free speech, Mr. Gandhi said: “Individuals face the constant threat of being arrested, held in pre-trial detention, subjected to expensive trials, and then if convicted, saddled with a criminal record, fines, and imprisonment…”