Applications filed by Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and Communist Party of India (Marxist) secretary Sitaram Yechury for dismissal of a defamation complaint filed by Mumbai's Dhrutiman Joshi over their comments on the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) in relation to the Gauri Lankesh murder were rejected by a trial court in Mumbai on Saturday, November 23.

Both, Gandhi and Yechury had made a statement blaming the BJP-RSS ideology for journalist Lankesh's murder in Bengaluru. Joshi, a local RSS activist and criminal lawyer had filed the suit against him and Yechury in 2017. Gandhi and Yechury will now face trial in a Mazagaon Court on January 6, 2020. City-based advocate Kushal Mor, who is representing Gandhi, said, "We intend to challenge this, as a challenge is required. We have informed the court and Joshi about this." He refused to elaborate.