06 August,2025 10:34 AM IST | Ranchi | mid-day online correspondent
Earlier, on June 2, Gandhi had approached the Jharkhand High Court challenging a special court’s directive File Pic.
Senior Congress leader Rahul Gandhi is expected to appear before the MP-MLA Court in Chaibasa, Jharkhand, on Wednesday in connection with a defamation case related to alleged remarks made against Union Home Minister Amit Shah during a 2018 rally.
Security arrangements have been tightened in Chaibasa, the district headquarters of West Singhbhum, ahead of Gandhi's anticipated court appearance.
According to Sub-Divisional Officer (Sadar) Sandeep Anurag Topno, the West Singhbhum district administration has implemented elaborate security measures to ensure law and order during Gandhi's visit.
Topno informed that a helipad has been prepared at the Tata College Ground for Gandhi's helicopter, which is expected to land around 10 am on Wednesday.
"He is likely to appear before the court around 10.40 am and will return to Ranchi after the court proceedings," the SDO said.
Earlier, on June 2, Gandhi had approached the Jharkhand High Court challenging a special court's directive that required him to appear before it on June 26.
Gandhi's legal counsel informed the High Court on June 10 that he would not be able to appear on the earlier scheduled date and requested a new date of August 6 for the hearing.
The Jharkhand High Court accepted the plea and rescheduled the court appearance to the requested date.
The defamation complaint was filed by Pratap Kumar, who alleged that Gandhi had made defamatory statements against Union Home Minister Amit Shah during a public rally in Chaibasa in 2018.
In his petition filed before the magistrate's court in Chaibasa, Kumar claimed that Gandhi's remarks were intended to damage Shah's public image and reputation.
Rahul Gandhi, who currently serves as the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, arrived in Jharkhand on Tuesday to attend the funeral of veteran tribal leader and former Chief Minister Shibu Soren at his ancestral village in Nemra, located in Ramgarh district.
Former Jharkhand Congress president Rajesh Thakur said Gandhi would be staying overnight in Ranchi.
Due to inclement weather, Gandhi and Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge were unable to attend the funeral ceremony earlier in the day, as their helicopter could not take off from Ranchi, where they had landed around 3.30 pm from Delhi.
Eventually, both leaders travelled to Nemra by road and reached the village around 6.45 pm, where they met Hemant Soren and offered their condolences.
"Last Johar, Dishom Guru Shibu Soren ji. You were a staunch protector of tribal identity and water, forest and land, and a guide on the path of justice... Your consciousness like that of Hul and your resolve like that of Dharti Aaba will always remain alive in our songs, our soil and our thoughts," Gandhi had said in a post on X late on Tuesday.
(Inputs from PTI)
