Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and CPI(M) general secretary Sitaram Yechury pleaded “not guilty” before the Mazgaon court on July 4 in a criminal defamation case filed against them by a Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) worker for making allegations against the Sangh after the murder of journalist Gauri Lankesh.
Metropolitan magistrate P.I. Mokashi granted bail to Mr. Gandhi on the surety of ex-MP Eknath Gaikwad and Mr. Yechury given bail on the surety of CPI(M) worker Shantaram Mankaumare.
Both were also granted permanent exemption in the case and the matter will be heard on September 21.
‘Fight of ideology’
Addressing the press outside the court, Mr. Gandhi said, “this is a fight of the ideology. I will keep fighting and I am enjoying my fight.”
Complainant advocate Dhrutiman Joshi alleged that Mr. Gandhi, while speaking to a reporter outside Parliament, had linked the RSS with the Gauri Lankesh murder.
Mr. Gandhi had allegedly said, “Anybody who speaks against the ideology of the BJP, against the ideology of the RSS is pressured, beaten, attacked and even killed.”
Mr. Yechury also allegedly made a statement alleging that the RSS ideology and its men were behind the killing of Gauri.
Earlier, the text of the statements was submitted to the court. The Byculla police are investigating the case lodged under Section 500 (punishment for defamation) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) in September 2017.
On February 21, metropolitan magistrate P.K. Deshpande recorded, “Upon perusal of the material placed before the court, I find the statements defamatory in nature. Mr. Gandhi and Mr. Yechury had no right to make such statements without verifying facts. No investigating agency can conclude that RSS or its followers were involved in the alleged murder of journalist Gauri Lankesh. I find sufficient grounds to proceed against them for offence punishable under Section 500 of IPC.”
