Indian opposition leader Rahul Gandhi acquitted in defamation case, TV channels report

By Rahul Gandhi, the leader of India's main opposition Congress party, was acquitted in a defamation ​case by a local court on Monday, ‌TV channels said. The acquittal comes at a time when Gandhi is leading a united opposition campaign against Prime Minister ​Narendra Modi and the Chief Election Commissioner ​over a controversial revision of voter lists. Gandhi, 56, the ⁠scion of the Nehru-Gandhi political dynasty and ​top leader of Congress, which has mostly ruled ​India since it gained independence from the British, was in court in the northern town of Sultanpur when the verdict ​was pronounced. His supporters burst crackers, beat drums ​and waved party flags as he left the court after ‌the ⁠acquittal, images on TV showed. Gandhi was accused of calling India's powerful Home Minister Amit Shah, who was then head of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), ​a 'murder accused', ​during a ⁠state election campaign speech in 2018. The case was filed in Sultanpur town ​of Uttar Pradesh state by a BJP ​member ⁠and the verdict was announced on Monday. A court in Modi's home state of Gujarat had convicted Gandhi ⁠in ​2023 in a separate defamation ​case over a 'Modi surname' remark, which briefly cost him his seat ​in parliament.