Ahmedabad: A local court here today re-issued summons to former Congress President Rahul Gandhi in connection with a defamation case lodged by a BJP corporator here for his statement against party president Amit Shah terming him a ‘murder accused.

The Court of Metropolitan Magistrate R B Etaliya in its summon ordered the Congress leader to appear before it on August 9, the next date of hearing.

Earlier on May 1, the court had issued the summons which sought his appearance on July 9 ie today. But as the earlier summons issued on the address of the then Loksabha speaker was returned by her office advising the court to re-issue it at his personal address, a fresh summon was issued today and sent on his personal address.

Counsel of Gandhi, Prakash Patel said that the court has now asked his client to appear before it on August 9, the next date of hearing.

The case has been filed by BJP Corporator of the AMC from Khadia ward in the city, Krishnavadan Brahmbhatt. He has alleged that the statement of Gandhi in the election rally of April 23 in Jabalpur of Madhya Pradesh was derogatory to Shah as he has already been discharged in the Shohrabuddin Shaikh encounter case by a CBI court.

The court had admitted his point that the case could be filed and heard in Ahmedabad as the speech of the Congress president was telecast live on television channels and was seen every where including Ahmedabad.

DeshGujarat