The long-running defamation dispute between Congress leader and MP Rahul Gandhi and BJP leader Karthikeya, son of Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, has been resolved. Rahul Gandhi has expressed his regret in writing in this matter which started over the statement given in a public meeting in Jhabua in the year 2018. Giving this information, Kartikeya Chauhan's lawyer Sankalp Kochhar said that the written explanation and apology given by Rahul Gandhi has been accepted, after which the process of closing the case has progressed.
Sankalp Kochhar told that this entire matter is related to a public meeting organized in Jhabua in 2018. During that time, Rahul Gandhi had taken the name of Kartikeya Chauhan in his speech while referring to Panama Papers. Rahul Gandhi had said that Kartikeya Chauhan's name has appeared in the Panama Papers and he is related to this case. Along with this, the name of the then Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chauhan and his family was also said to be linked in this case.
After this statement, Kartikeya Chauhan had filed a defamation petition in the MP-MLA court of Bhopal, saying that it was damaging to his reputation. He said that he has no connection with the Panama Papers case and wrong information has been presented by taking his name from the public platform. On this basis he had initiated legal action.
During the hearing of the case, the Bhopal court had directed Rahul Gandhi to appear. Rahul Gandhi had filed a petition against this in the Madhya Pradesh High Court. During the hearing in the High Court, senior advocate Vivek Tankha presented his side on behalf of Rahul Gandhi. He told the court that this comment from Rahul Gandhi was a misunderstanding and his intention was not to make any personal allegations against Kartikeya Chauhan.
According to lawyer Sankalp Kochhar, Rahul Gandhi has now clarified in writing that he had taken the name of Kartikeya Chauhan out of confusion. He has said in his application that the related statement was not factually correct and he expresses regret for it. Rahul Gandhi also said that he had issued a clarification in this regard the very next day of the statement, but now he is clarifying his stand before the court also.
This written apology of Rahul Gandhi has been accepted on behalf of Kartikeya Chauhan. Sankalp Kochhar said that when Rahul Gandhi has clearly accepted his mistake and expressed regret, then there is no justification in taking the matter forward. On this basis, a request was made to close the case.
After the hearing in the High Court, the ongoing proceedings in this case have been closed. This almost eight year old controversy has come to an end with Rahul Gandhi's written apology and explanation. In this politically controversial matter, the legal dispute between the two parties has now come to an end.
