The Supreme Court of India on Monday granted a temporary reprieve to Congress MP Rahul Gandhi by staying proceedings in a criminal defamation case related to his controversial comments during the Bharat Jodo Yatra, but not without delivering a stern rebuke.
A bench comprising Justice Dipankar Datta and Justice A.G. Masih took exception to Gandhi’s public claim that 2,000 sq km of Indian land had been occupied by China following the deadly Galwan Valley clash in Ladakh in June 2020. Gandhi had blamed the Modi government for what he described as a “surrender” of territory, a remark that sparked strong criticism and legal action.
“How did you get to know that 2,000 sq km of Indian land has been taken over by the Chinese? If you are a true Indian, you won’t say all of this,” Justice Datta remarked during the hearing, signaling deep concern over the national security implications of such public statements.
Senior advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi, appearing for Gandhi, defended his client’s right to political expression, saying, “If he can’t say these things… how can he be the Leader of Opposition?“
To this, Justice Datta sharply responded, “Then why don’t you say such things in Parliament? Why say it on social media?”
The case stems from a criminal defamation complaint filed in a special court for elected representatives in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, which had summoned Gandhi over his remarks. His legal team had earlier sought to quash the proceedings, but the Allahabad High Court in May 2025 rejected his plea, prompting the current appeal to the apex court.
While the Supreme Court has stayed the lower court proceedings for now, it has also issued a notice on Gandhi’s plea to quash the defamation case entirely.
The incident reignites debate around the limits of political speech, especially concerning national security and foreign policy. It also underscores the judiciary’s growing scrutiny of inflammatory rhetoric by public figures — even when uttered during political campaigns or public outreach programs.
Gandhi’s Bharat Jodo Yatra, aimed at countering divisive politics and reviving the Congress party’s base, has repeatedly drawn criticism from the ruling BJP for allegedly undermining national interest.
With this latest legal development, the case is set to become a flashpoint in the evolving narrative between political accountability, freedom of speech, and national responsibility.
