Rahul Gandhi was acquitted in a 2018 criminal defamation case involving remarks about Amit Shah by a special MP-MLA court in Sultanpur, Uttar Pradesh, on October 26, 2026. Earlier that morning, vehicles in his convoy collided on the Purvanchal Expressway, but the Congress leader was unharmed.
Sultanpur Court Acquits Rahul Gandhi in Defamation Case
Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate Shubham Verma pronounced the verdict with Gandhi present in court. The case concerned remarks made about Amit Shah, then BJP president. According to legal reporting, the court found that Gandhi's remarks were not defamatory. Gandhi, now the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, had denied wrongdoing and said the case was politically motivated.
How the 2018 Amit Shah Complaint Began
Local BJP leader Vijay Mishra filed the complaint on August 4, 2018, alleging that Gandhi had made objectionable statements about Shah in Bengaluru. The court summoned Gandhi in November 2023, and he subsequently appeared and obtained bail. During the proceedings, the complainant sought to compare Gandhi's voice with a recording of the disputed speech, but that request was rejected by the trial court. Challenges to the rejection were also dismissed. After arguments concluded, the verdict date was moved from October 13 to October 26.
Rahul Gandhi's Convoy in Expressway Collision
On his way from Lucknow to Sultanpur on Monday, several vehicles travelling with Gandhi collided near Haliyapur on the Purvanchal Expressway. Early reports said five vehicles and an ambulance were involved, with some party workers and security personnel reportedly injured. A police officer quoted by PTI described the incident as minor and said no major injuries had been reported. The officer said a vehicle in the group braked suddenly at around 10.15 am, leading to a chain collision. Gandhi's vehicle was not involved, and he continued towards court.
Court Decision Ends Sultanpur Defamation Trial
The acquittal ends the trial arising from the complaint filed in Sultanpur eight years ago. The ruling concerns this particular 2018 case and should not be confused with other proceedings involving political speeches. It also follows a journey marked by a road accident that briefly drew attention to the security convoy. Early accounts differed on the number of injuries.
