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Sultanpur court rejects petition seeking Rahul Gandhi voice sample in defamation case
An MP/MLA court in Sultanpur rejected a plea for a forensic voice sample of Rahul Gandhi in a defamation case tied to an alleged remark about Amit Shah. The court said voice sample matching was unnecessary since Gandhi did not deny the voice on the submitted CD, and it set May 11 for the next hearing while directing Gandhi to furnish a bail bond.
Why It Matters
The ruling clarifies how voice sample requests are treated in defamation proceedings and could influence similar petitions in politically sensitive cases involving high-profile figures.
Timeline
7 Events
Court rejects voice sample petition; next hearing set for May 11
May 2, 2026
The MP/MLA court rejected the plea seeking a forensic voice sample of Rahul Gandhi, directed Gandhi to furnish a bail bond, and posted the matter for the next hearing on May 11.
Court reserves order after hearing
April 22, 2026
After hearing both sides, the court reserved its order on April 22, 2026 regarding the voice sample plea.
Advocate moves for voice sample matching
March 12, 2026
Advocate Santosh Pandey, representing the complainant, moved the application seeking voice sample matching on March 12, 2026; Gandhi's counsel opposed the plea.
Gandhi's statement recorded in court
February 20, 2026
Rahul Gandhi's statement in the case was recorded on February 20, 2026.
Gandhi appears in court; bail granted
February 20, 2024
Rahul Gandhi appeared before the court on February 20, 2024, and was granted bail in the defamation case.
Court summons Gandhi to face trial
November 27, 2023
The MP/MLA court in Sultanpur had summoned Rahul Gandhi to face trial on November 27, 2023, in connection with the defamation case.
Defamation complaint filed by Vijay Mishra
August 4, 2018
The defamation complaint was filed on August 4, 2018, by Vijay Mishra, a former chairman of the District Cooperative Bank, alleging Rahul Gandhi made an objectionable remark in Bengaluru in 2018.