JHK's HC exempts Rahul Gandhi from physical appearance in ‘Saare Modi chor’ case

• Jharkhand HC granted relief to Rahul Gandhi in a defamation case, allowing his petition challenging the Ranchi MP-MLA court's order
• Gandhi was exempted from making a personal appearance and the court directed against coercion
• The case, filed by Pradeep Modi, will be heard on August 16 at the Ranchi MP-MLA court

The Jharkhand High Court today gave relief to Congress president Rahul Gandhi by allowing his petition challenging the Ranchi MP-MLA's court order directing him to appear before the court in person in a defamation case.

Single Judge S.K. Dwivedi issued the order after dealing with Gandhi's petition filed through his lawyers Piyush Chitresh and Dipankar Roy.

The court not only exempted Gandhi from making a personal appearance, but also directed that no coercion be made against him.

Now the court will hear the case on August 16.

Ranchi resident and lawyer by profession Pradeep Modi has filed a defamation case against Gandhi for his statement "Sare Modi Chor hai (All Modis are thieves)" at Ranchi's Morhabadi ground during his 2019 Lok Sabha election campaign.

The case is being heard at of Ranchi MP-MLA court. Earlier, Gandhi had sought exemption from physical appearance under Section 205 CrPC (Penal Code) in the lower court, which did not give him relief.