The MP MLA court in Ranchi has heard the 2018 defamation case against Congress leader Rahul Gandhi over his alleged objectionable remarks against Union Home Minister Amit Shah. 

The court fixed another date for hearing as Rahul Gandhi who was issued summon did not appear before the court.It was not clear whether the summon issued by the court reached or received by Rahul Gandhi. 

Next date for hearing was being decided by the court, said a lawyer.

The defamation complaint against Gandhi was filed by BJP leader Vijay Mishra. The court had issued summons to Congress leader Rahul Gandhi in a case over an alleged objectionable statement against Union Home Minister Amit Shah. The court ordered him to appear before it on June 11. 

According to a case filed by BJP worker Naveen Jha, the Congress MP made objectionable remarks against the then national president of the party, Amit Shah, during a program in 2018, by saying BJP is the only party that can make a murderer the national president. 

The Ranchi MP MLA court had issued summons against Rahul Gandhi earlier as well, following the complaint. 

The Congress leader had approached the Jharkhand High Court challenging the summons, but he did not receive relief there. After the petition was rejected by the High Court, the hearing was held again in the MP MLA court, and the judge has asked Rahul Gandhi to appear in court on June 11. 

 Vinod Sahu, the lawyer representing petitioner Naveen Jha in court, said that it will only be clear after June 11 what action is taken by Rahul Gandhi and what decision the court takes against him. But it did happen as Congress leader Rahul Gandhi did not appear.

In a similar case lodged in Chaibasa over the same remarks, Rahul Gandhi continues to be on bail. The High Court had granted him relief by staying the proceedings of the lower court. No coercion for Rahul Gandhi was ordered by the Jharkhand High Court. 

Last week, the Jharkhand High Court imposed a fine of Rs 1,000 on the Congress leader for not filing his response within the stipulated time regarding the case in Chaibasa court.