It was a Monday with two very different headlines for Rahul Gandhi. On his way to hear a court verdict, five cars in his convoy piled into each other and an ambulance on the Purvanchal Expressway. A few hours later, the same court cleared him in a defamation case that had been hanging over him since 2018.
On October 26, 2026, a special MP-MLA court in Sultanpur, Uttar Pradesh, acquitted the Congress leader and Leader of the Opposition in a criminal defamation case filed by BJP leader Vijay Mishra over remarks Gandhi made about Amit Shah, who was BJP president at the time and is now Union Home Minister. Gandhi was present in court when the verdict was read out. Earlier that morning, he escaped unhurt when convoy vehicles collided near Haliyapur, about 35 km short of Sultanpur.
Quick Facts
- Who: Rahul Gandhi, Congress MP and Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha
- What: Acquitted in a 2018 criminal defamation case over remarks about Amit Shah
- When: Monday, October 26, 2026
- Where: Special MP-MLA court, Sultanpur, Uttar Pradesh
- Complainant: BJP leader Vijay Mishra, who filed the case on August 4, 2018
- Convoy crash: 5 convoy vehicles and an ambulance collided near the 91 km mark of the Purvanchal Expressway; several people hurt, Gandhi unhurt
Rahul Gandhi Defamation Case: What the Sultanpur Court Decided
The verdict was pronounced by judge Shubham Verma of the MP-MLA court, a special court that hears cases against sitting and former lawmakers. According to legal news site LiveLaw and Bar & Bench, the court acquitted Gandhi of the defamation charge.
Reports from the court said the judge found the remarks were not defamatory. Gandhi’s lawyer, Kashi Prasad Shukla, told reporters the decision would be accepted, and Congress workers celebrated outside the court complex.
Before the verdict, the complainant’s lawyer had said that if Gandhi were convicted, arguments on sentencing would follow, with a maximum possible punishment of two years in jail and a fine. With the acquittal, that stage does not arise.
What the 2018 Case Was About
The case goes back to the run-up to the 2018 Karnataka Assembly election. Vijay Mishra, a BJP leader and former chairman of the Sultanpur District Cooperative Bank, alleged that Gandhi made objectionable comments about Amit Shah in Bengaluru in May 2018. Reports differ on whether the remarks came at a press conference or a rally.
Gandhi denied the charge and his side argued that the comments had been taken out of context. The complainant maintained they damaged Shah’s reputation.
The case moved slowly. Gandhi was summoned for trial and later granted bail. Along the way, Mishra’s request for a voice sample comparison was turned down by the trial court, a sessions court dismissed his revision plea, and the Allahabad High Court also rejected his challenge, according to India TV. The verdict was first listed for October 13 before being moved to October 26, and Gandhi had to appear in person.
Rahul Gandhi Convoy Accident on Purvanchal Expressway
The morning drama came first. Gandhi landed at Lucknow airport and set off by road for Sultanpur, roughly 135 km away. Near the 91 km milestone, within Haliyapur police station limits, five vehicles from his convoy and an ambulance collided, news agency PTI reported.
Police said the five vehicles were travelling at the rear of the convoy. Gandhi’s own car was not damaged and he continued to court. Several people were hurt, reportedly including Congress workers, party office-bearers and some security personnel. Reports described the injuries as minor, but no official count had been released at the time of writing.
Video shared online showed the ambulance in the fast lane with several cars bunched up around it, and an SUV with a damaged bonnet stopped in front of it. Some reports said a pilot car braked suddenly, but police have not officially confirmed the cause.
Why This Verdict Matters
Defamation cases have been a real pressure point for Gandhi. In 2023, his conviction in a separate defamation case in Gujarat over his “Modi surname” remark briefly cost him his Lok Sabha seat until the Supreme Court stayed that conviction. A conviction carrying a two-year sentence can trigger disqualification for lawmakers under election law, which is why every such verdict draws attention.
Monday’s ruling closes a case that had been pending for more than eight years since the complaint was filed in August 2018.
What We Don’t Know Yet
- Whether complainant Vijay Mishra or the BJP will appeal the acquittal in a higher court.
- The court’s detailed written reasoning, which had not been published at the time of writing.
- The exact number of people injured in the convoy crash and their condition.
- The official cause of the collision. Police have not yet issued a full statement.
What This Means for You
For most readers, the convoy crash is the practical takeaway. Expressway pile-ups often start the same way: vehicles driving too close together at high speed. Keep a gap of at least a few seconds from the car ahead, especially in fast lanes, and always make way for ambulances. If you are near an accident, call 112 rather than stopping in a live lane.
FAQs
Was Rahul Gandhi acquitted in the Amit Shah defamation case?
Yes. A special MP-MLA court in Sultanpur acquitted him on October 26, 2026, in the case filed in 2018 by BJP leader Vijay Mishra.
Who filed the defamation case against Rahul Gandhi in Sultanpur?
Vijay Mishra, a BJP leader and former chairman of the Sultanpur District Cooperative Bank, filed it on August 4, 2018.
Was Rahul Gandhi hurt in the convoy accident?
No. His car was not damaged and he reached court on time. Several others in the convoy, including party workers and security staff, were reportedly injured.
Where did the Rahul Gandhi convoy accident happen?
On the Purvanchal Expressway near the 91 km milestone in the Haliyapur area, on the route from Lucknow to Sultanpur in Uttar Pradesh.
Can the acquittal be challenged?
In general, a complainant can appeal an acquittal before a higher court. No appeal had been announced at the time of writing.
For the court report, see LiveLaw’s coverage of the verdict.
Based on reporting by LiveLaw, Bar & Bench, India TV, NewsX and PTI.
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