Rahul Gandhi secures bail in 2018 defamation case over Amit Shah remarks

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi was granted bail by a Jharkhand court in a 2018 defamation case filed by BJP’s Pratap Katihar over remarks against Amit Shah. After multiple summons and warrants, Gandhi appeared in court, and the case now proceeds to trial.

Chaibasa: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi was granted bail by the MP-MLA Court in Chaibasa, Jharkhand, on Wednesday, 6 August 2025, in a defamation case. The case dates back to 2018, when Rahul Gandhi made a controversial statement against Union Home Minister Amit Shah during a Congress session. After this statement, BJP leader Pratap Katihar filed a defamation case against Rahul Gandhi in the Chaibasa court.

Rahul Gandhi appeared in court at around 10:55 am on Wednesday, and his lawyers requested bail, which was accepted by the court. Rahul's lawyer said that he had arrived in court following the instructions of the Jharkhand High Court. Now the matter will proceed in the trial process.

Background of the case

The controversy started on 28 March 2018, when Rahul Gandhi made a controversial remark accusing Amit Shah at a Congress event. After this, on 9 July 2018, Pratap Katihar filed a defamation case in the Chaibasa court. However, Rahul Gandhi did not appear in court despite receiving summons several times, due to which the court first issued a bailable warrant and then a non-bailable warrant in February 2024.

Rahul Gandhi had sought exemption under Section 205 of the CrPC for not appearing in court, but the court rejected it. After this, he filed a petition in the Jharkhand High Court, where he got relief for some time. But in March 2024, the High Court also rejected his petition. After this, on 22 May 2025, the Chaibasa Court again issued a non-bailable warrant. Finally, on 6 August 2025, Rahul Gandhi appeared in court and applied for bail, which was accepted.

Next stages

Now the case has reached the trial stage. Senior lawyers have pleaded in the court on behalf of Rahul Gandhi. The case is politically important, as it involves a dispute between two prominent national leaders. After this decision, it remains to be seen how the legal process progresses and whether it has any political impact.

This entire case makes it clear that there can be delays and complications in legal processes, but ultimately the court's instructions have to be followed. Rahul Gandhi's appearance in court and getting bail is an indication that the law applies equally to everyone.