Court summons former Keralam DGP R. Sreelekha in Rahul Gandhi defamation case

A court in Mavelikkara in Alappuzha district, Keralam, has issued a notice summoning former Director General of Police and BJP’s Thiruvananthapuram Corporation councillor R. Sreelekha to appear in person in a criminal defamation case registered in connection with her alleged derogatory remarks against Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi.

The case has been filed by Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee general secretary K.P. Sreekumar. Ms. Sreelekha has been directed to appear before the court on December 2. She allegedly made the remarks while addressing a public gathering organised by the BJP Kollam East District Committee in Punalur on October 14 in support of the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls and Chief Election Commissioner of India Gyanesh Kumar.

Ms. Sreelekha had allegedly attributed Mr. Gandhi’s protest in Delhi to a substance abuse-induced high. The State Police Chief had received several complaints following the alleged remarks. The Punalur police had also registered a case under Section 192 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita for allegedly wantonly or maliciously giving provocation with the intent or knowledge that it could cause a riot.

Ms. Sreelekha had subsequently doubled down on the allegation, accusing the State government of adopting double standards in its response to insults directed at Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Mr. Gandhi.