Rahul Gandhi apologises in defamation case filed by Shivraj Singh Chouhan's son

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has filed an application before the Madhya Pradesh High Court expressing regret for a statement he made in 2018 that allegedly defamed Kartikeya Singh, son of Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan. The application was submitted on Wednesday, June 24, 2026, through his lawyer.

The defamation complaint was filed by Kartikeya Singh in a Bhopal court, alleging that during an election rally in Jhabua in 2018, Mr. Gandhi referred to his name in connection with the Panama Papers leak scandal, damaging his reputation. The Panama Papers leak had exposed offshore financial dealings of several individuals, including politicians and their relatives.

Following the complaint, the court issued a summons to Mr. Gandhi for personal appearance. In response, the Congress leader moved the Jabalpur bench of the High Court seeking to quash both the summons and the defamation case. In his application, Mr. Gandhi stated that his statement was not related to Kartikeya Singh.

Justice Pramod Kumar Agarwal of the High Court is scheduled to hear Mr. Gandhi's petition on Thursday, June 25, 2026. On Wednesday, the petitioner produced the records of the lower court as directed by the High Court. Advocate Sankalp Kochhar represented the complainant before the High Court.

This legal development comes amid ongoing political rivalry between the Congress and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Mr. Gandhi, currently the Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, has faced multiple defamation cases in the past, including one related to his remark on the 'Modi surname'.

The case highlights the legal recourse available to individuals who claim their reputation has been harmed by political speech. The High Court's decision on Thursday will determine whether the defamation proceedings will continue.