Rahul Gandhi Misses Court Hearing in Defamation Case; Next Date Set for February 20

Rahul Gandhi, Congress leader and Lok Sabha Opposition Leader, did not appear before the MP-MLA court in Sultanpur on January 19, 2026, in a defamation case filed by BJP functionary Vijay Mishra. The case relates to alleged remarks Gandhi made against then BJP president Amit Shah during Karnataka's 2018 election campaign. The court granted Gandhi a final opportunity to appear and scheduled the next hearing for February 20, 2026. Gandhi's counsel cited a prior engagement in Kerala for his absence. Gandhi has denied the allegations, calling the case politically motivated, and has previously recorded his statement and secured bail.