Rahul Gandhi, Randeep Surjewala issued summons in defamation case, to appear before court on May 27

A metropolitan court on Monday issued summons to Congress president Rahul Gandhi and party spokesperson Randeep Singh Surjewala on the criminal defamation pleas filed by Ahmedabad District Cooperative (ADC) Bank and its chairman Ajay Patel.   

The court had completed the arguments last Friday and had reserved its order till Monday, April 8. 

The ADC Bank and Patel have demanded action against Rahul and Surjewala for defaming them in an alleged Rs 745.59 crore scam of converting demonetised currencies within five days of Prime Minister Narendra Modi announcing the note ban decision on November 8, 2016.

The bank has also alleged that Rahul’s tweet saying #ShahZyadaKhaGaya was damaging to the bank’s reputation and many potential depositors refrained from depositing in the bank.

As per section 499 of the IPC, defamation could be through words spoken or intended to be read, through signs, and also through visible representations.

These can either be published or spoken about a person with the intention of damaging the reputation of that person or with the knowledge or reason to believe that the imputation will harm his reputation.

If found guilty of criminal defamation, section 500 of the IPC entails an imprisonment of up to two years, with or without fine.

However, criminal defamation is a compoundable offence and parties can seek a closure of the case by reaching a compromise.