Rahul Gandhi Appears Before Bhiwandi Court to Complete Bond Formalities in 2014 Defamation Case

New Delhi, Feb 2026 : Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha and senior Congress MP Rahul Gandhi appeared before a court in Maharashtra’s Bhiwandi on Saturday in connection with a defamation case filed against him in 2014. His appearance was part of a procedural requirement following the death of his earlier guarantor, Shivraj Patil.

According to legal counsel representing the Congress leader, the court had directed Gandhi to furnish a new guarantor and execute a fresh bond after being informed that Patil, who had earlier stood surety for him, had passed away. Advocate Narayan Iyer, appearing on Gandhi’s behalf, said the court required compliance with standard legal formalities to ensure continuity of the case proceedings.

During the hearing, Gandhi was expected to sign the bond again and submit details of a new guarantor. His counsel clarified that the day’s proceedings were limited to completing these formal steps and that no substantive arguments or witness examinations were scheduled.

The defamation case, which dates back more than a decade, is presently at the evidence stage. Advocate Iyer informed the court that the complainant, Rajesh, who is the principal witness in the matter, has already been cross-examined. He also noted that a second witness, Ashok Saikar, who had conducted the investigation into the private complaint at the time it was filed, has been examined. However, Saikar’s cross-examination under Section 202 of the Criminal Procedure Code is still pending and will be taken up at a later stage.

Legal sources indicated that Saturday’s hearing was largely procedural in nature and that the court’s focus remained on ensuring all documentation and bond-related requirements were duly completed following the change in guarantor.

Meanwhile, a day earlier, Gandhi appeared before an MP/MLA court in Sultanpur, Uttar Pradesh, in connection with another defamation case related to his alleged remarks against Union Home Minister Amit Shah. Addressing that case, Gandhi maintained that the complaint against him was motivated by “political malice.”

He travelled to Sultanpur by road from Lucknow airport and completed the required court formalities. His statement was recorded during the hearing, which reportedly lasted around 20 minutes. After the proceedings concluded, Gandhi departed from the court premises.

The Sultanpur court has scheduled March 9 as the next date of hearing in that matter. Both cases continue to draw attention as they proceed through different stages of the judicial process, with Gandhi and his legal team asserting that he will comply with all legal requirements while contesting the allegations on merit.