2020 Hathras Rape: Court to Hear Rahul Gandhi Defamation Case on Sep 19

Hathras: A notice issued to Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi in a defamation suit linked to his remarks over the 2020 Hathras rape case has been served, the complainant's lawyer said on Tuesday.

The notice was issued by Additional District Judge of the MP/MLA Court No 5, Vijay Kumar Dwivedi, after hearing a revision petition on July 15.

On Tuesday's hearing, the court was informed that the notice was duly served and was received by Gandhi, the complainant's counsel Munna Singh Pundhir said.

The court has fixed the next date of hearing on September 19.

Pundhir, who represents Ravi, Ram Kumar alias Ramu and Lav Kush -- three men acquitted of rape charges in the Boolgarhi case -- said that an Additional Civil Judge (Senior Division) of the MP/MLA Court had dismissed the complaint against Gandhi on May 13.

Challenging the order, the complainants filed a revision petition, which the Additional District Judge admitted for hearing on July 15.

A Dalit girl from Boolgarhi village in Hathras was allegedly gangraped in September 2020. She died days later during treatment at a hospital in Delhi.

Four men of her village were accused of committing the crime. Three of them -- Ramkumar, Luvkush and Ravi -- were acquitted, while Sandeep was found guilty and is still in jail.

According to Pundhir, Gandhi, on his visit to Boolgarhi village on December 12, 2024, allegedly stated that the accused were "roaming free" while the victim's family remained confined to their home.

Pundhir claimed the remarks were defamatory as the three men had been acquitted of rape charges following a CBI investigation and a trial that lasted over two-and-a-half years.

The complainants had earlier served a legal notice on Gandhi seeking damages of Rs 1.5 crore -- Rs 50 lakh each for the three acquitted men -- before filing the criminal defamation complaint, the lawyer said.