Rahul Gandhi might have to face trial for alleged defamation of RSS

The hearing in the petition filed by Rahul Gandhi to quash defamation proceedings pending against him in a Maharashtra court witnessed some strong observations by the Supreme Court today..Justice Rohinton Nariman, one of the judges hearing the case, remarked that “wholesale denunciation of an organization” for the actions of its members could attract the offence of defamation..Senior Advocate Harin Raval appeared for Rahul Gandhi..The remarks in question were part of Rahul’s speech in an election rally in 2015, when he said that “RSS people had killed Gandhiji”..Offended by the same, RSS activist Rajesh Kunte had filed a criminal defamation case against Rahul. Rahul had then moved the Bombay High Court to quash the proceedings but the same was rejected whereupon he had appealed to the Supreme Court..When the case came up for hearing today, the Court said that a whole organization cannot be branded “with the same brush” for the actions of its members..“You can’t make wholesale denunciation of an organization for the actions of its members”, remarked Justice Nariman..The Court made it clear that if Rahul was not ready to express regret for his remarks, it would be a matter of trial..Raval then sought adjournment of the case for two weeks citing unavailability of Senior Advocate Kapil Sibal, who is expected to argue for Rahul. The Court rejected the request and posted the case for hearing on July 27..Image taken from here.