RSS case: Charges likely to be framed against Rahul in July
A Thane court is likely to frame charges against Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi in July in connection with a defamation case filed against him by Rashtriya Swayansevak Sangh (RSS) worker Rajesh Kunte in March 2014.
Gandhi, in an election speech at Bhiwandi, said that the RSS had a role in Mahatma Gandhi’s assassination, according to the complaint.
Gandhi was supposed to appear before the magistrate’s court on Friday, but skipped it . He moved an application through his counsel to exempt him from appearing on Friday. “The charges were to be framed on Friday but he (Gandhi) was unable to attend because of his political commitments,” said Gandhi’s counsel Narayan Iyer.
The court has adjourned proceedings to July 20 when the charges will be framed in Gandhi’s presence.
Though the Supreme Court has stayed proceedings against him, Gandhi appeared before magistrate DP Kale in Bhiwandi on July 8, 2015.
Gandhi had in September, last year, withdrawn his petition filed in the apex court, challenging the case and said that he would face the trial. He expressed his readiness to face the trial after the Supreme Court refused to interfere with the criminal proceedings pending against him before the trial court. He had moved the apex court challenging the order of the Bombay high court that refused to quash the defamation case and summons issued to him by the trial court.
After the case was withdrawn, the court had summoned Gandhi for further proceedings.