Ahmedabad: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi today appeared in a metro court here in connection with a defamation case which granted him bail and fixed September 7 as the next date of hearing.

The case regarding his remark, statements and social media posts about the alleged large-scale deposit of scrapped Rs 500 and 1000 notes in Ahmedabad District Cooperative Bank (ADC bank), of which BJP president Amit Shah was a director, during just five days after announcement of demonetization on November 8, 2016 was filed by bank Chairman Ajay Patel in August last year. Congress spokesperson Randeep Surjewala has also been made accused in the case filed by the bank chairman Ajay Patel.

Gandhi arrived here at the SVBPI Airport at 1230 pm and later appeared in the court Court No 13 of woman Addl Chief Metropolitan Magistrate, Ms Nirali B Munshi, situated on the sixth floor in the Metro Court in Ghee Kanta area of the city. On the very outset of the hearing in the court he pleaded not guilty saying that the allegations leveled against him were not correct. Later, advocate of the complainant S V Raju argued that the congress leader could not be allowed to move out of the court without applying for bail and getting it.

 

After that Rahul’s counsel applied for bail which was granted on furnishing a bond of Rs 15000/- and a personal surety of an equal amount. Congress leader and member of the team of advocates for the party leader, Babu Mangukiya said that no application for exemption from personal appearance was given today. He also claimed that the objection of the complainant’s counsel regarding bail issue was not necessary. ‘Rahul Ji appeared in the wake of summons and it was not required that he should have been forced to take bail. It is perhaps the first such incident in the legal history of Gujarat but we don’t want to get in to any controversy about it,’ he added.

 

The complainant was not present in the court today.

Rahul had to spend around 30 minutes inside the jam-packed court-room in which several senior party leaders including treasurer Ahmed Patel was also present.

A statement from Rahul’s office said,’ Over 20 cases have been filed against him in various courts around India by RSS/ BJP workers to try and intimidate and harass him. Shri Rahul Gandhi has made it clear that he will neither be intimidated nor silenced and will vigorously defend himself in each of these cases.”

 

Earlier story

Ahmedabad: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi is in Ahmedabad to appear in a metro court here in connection with a defamation case regarding his remark, statements and social media posts about the alleged large-scale deposit of scrapped Rs 500 and 1000 notes in Ahmedabad District Cooperative Bank (ADC bank), of which BJP president Amit Shah was a director, during just five days after announcement of demonetization on November 8, 2016.

 

 

Senior Gujarat Congress leader, Rajya Sabha member representing Gujarat and national treasurer of Congress party Ahmed Patel also arrived with Rahul Gandhi.

Congress spokesperson Randeep Surjewala has also been made accused in the case filed by the bank chairman Ajay Patel.

Senior Congress leaders of Gujarat Congress were present to receive Rahul Gandhi at airport.

After his arrival in Indigo flight with Ahmed Patel and others, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi drove to Swati restaurant in Law Garden area of city’s western part to have lunch.

 

Gujarat Congress in charge Rajiv Satav was sitting next to Rahul. A lady lawyer and Ahmedabad based Congress leader Deepak Babariya (incharge of party’s Madhya Pradesh unit) were also sharing table with Rahul Gandhi.

State Congress leaders were sitting on the next table. Party leader Hardik Patel couldn’t manage seat on either table. He was sitting on third table.

There was traffic jam in Law Garden area following Rahul Gandhi’s visit to Swati restaurant.

Rahul during lunch, most of the time conversed with Deepak Babariya. He obliged the staff of the restaurant for selfies.

The court of Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate had earlier examined the witnesses and observed that prima facie it appears to be a case of defamation.

Gujarat Congress spokesperson Manish Doshi today confirmed that Rahul Gandhi would arrive here tomorrow at around 1230pm and appear before the court later.

A statement from Rahul’s office had yesterday said,’ Congress President Shri Rahul Gandhi will travel to Ahmedabad tomorrow (Friday, 12th July) to make a personal appearance at Court No 13, Addl Chief Metropolitan Magistrate, at 2.30 PM.

Over 20 cases have been filed against him in various courts around India by RSS/ BJP workers to try and intimidate and harass him. Shri Rahul Gandhi has made it clear that he will neither be intimidated nor silenced and will vigorously defend himself in each of these cases.”

Notably, the court had earlier on August 27 last year ordered an inquiry under section 202 of the CrPC in the matter before proceeding further on the complaint lodged in the court by ADC bank chairman Ajay Patel on the same day. Patel with his complaint had also attached the copy of a CD and transcripts of the statements, tweets etc of the accused.

In June last year Surjewala had during a press conference alleged that ADC bank received the highest amount of old demonetized notes, worth Rs 745.58 crore, in just five days after the note ban was announced on November 8, 2016 by PM Modi. It was the only one of the 370 district cooperative banks across the country to receive such a large sum of demonetized notes in five days.

“ADC Bank chairman Ajay Patel is a prominent BJP leader, a close associate of Amit Shah. Five days after demonetization, all cooperative banks were banned from accepting demonetized notes with the pretence of preventing money laundering through them,’ Surjewala had said. He had also alleged that in 11 district cooperative banks in Gujarat headed by BJP leaders, including those in Ahmedabad and Rajkot, Rs 3,118.51 crore worth of old notes were deposited within five days of demonetization.

Congress president Rahul Gandhi had also taken a jibe at BJP and Shah with his tweet on June 22.

“Congratulations Amit Shah ji , Director, Ahmedabad Dist. Cooperative Bank, on your bank winning 1st prize in the conversion of old notes to new race. 750 Cr in 5 days! Millions of Indians whose lives were destroyed by demonetisation, salute your achievement,” Rahul had tweeted.

Patel in his complaint has alleged that the false accusation by Congress leaders had affected the image of the bank and they were liable to action under defamation laws.

Notably, two other defamation cases against Rahul Gandhi are also being heard by other courts in Gujarat. In the one pertaining to his speech in an election rally in Jabalpur calling Amit Shah, a murder-accused, another metro court here has on last Tuesday re-issued summon to him ordering him to appear before it on August 9. The case is filed by a local BJP corporator. In another defamation case against the Congress leader, filed by BJP MLA Purnesh Modi in Surat for his remarks in an election rally in South India in which he had allegedly said that ‘Sabhi Modi Chor hain’ (All Modis are thieves), a court in the South Gujarat city had also on Tuesday issued a summon calling him to appear before it on July 16.

DeshGujarat