--- title: "Sultanpur court acquits Rahul Gandhi in 2018 defamation case" publication: "MediaBias News" url: "https://mediabias.news/politics/sultanpur-court-acquits-rahul-gandhi-in-2018-defamation-case" api: "https://mediabias.news/api/v1/stories/sultanpur-court-acquits-rahul-gandhi-in-2018-defamation-case" markdown: "https://mediabias.news/politics/sultanpur-court-acquits-rahul-gandhi-in-2018-defamation-case.md" audio: "https://mediabias.news/api/audio/sultanpur-court-acquits-rahul-gandhi-in-2018-defamation-case" category: "Politics" area: "India" published: "2026-10-26T07:25:30.693Z" source_reported: "2026-10-26T06:59:13.000Z" updated: "2026-10-26T07:25:30.693Z" trust_score: 42 critic_score: 60 hype_score: 20 assessment_type: "coverage-and-source-reporting-analysis" fact_check_status: "not-performed" coverage_measured: "2026-10-26T07:15:11.795368+00:00" --- # Sultanpur court acquits Rahul Gandhi in 2018 defamation case *The case related to alleged remarks made by Gandhi against Amit Shah in 2018.* **Scores for the source reporting** (0-100, assessing the original journalism this article was written from, not this write-up): - Trust 42 of 100, higher is better. One full report and 26 digests corroborate the acquittal; the full report names the complainant. - Craft 60 of 100, higher is better. The story is clearly written and holds together, with most outlets providing context and details. - Hype 20 of 100, lower is better. The language used is measured and proportionate, with no sensationalism or manufactured urgency. Scored by MediaBias News; method at https://mediabias.news/methodology. **The short version** - Rahul Gandhi was acquitted by a Sultanpur court in a 2018 criminal defamation case. - The case concerned alleged remarks made by Gandhi about Amit Shah during the 2018 Karnataka Assembly election campaign. - The court ruled that Gandhi's remarks were not defamatory in nature. - The complaint was filed by BJP leader Vijay Mishra. A court in Sultanpur, Uttar Pradesh, acquitted Rahul Gandhi in a 2018 criminal defamation case. The case stemmed from alleged remarks made by Gandhi against Amit Shah in 2018. Gandhi was present in court for the verdict. The court ruled that the remarks were not defamatory. ## Disagreement on the reason for acquittal While the court ruled Gandhi's remarks were not defamatory, the specific reasoning behind the acquittal varied in reports. The Siasat Daily stated the court ruled the remarks were not defamatory in nature. Latestly and aninews.in reported the case stemmed from alleged "objectionable remarks" against Amit Shah. Times of India and ABP News stated the case originated from remarks Gandhi made about Amit Shah during a rally. uttamhindu.com reported the court pronounced the verdict due to a lack of evidence. TV9 Kannada stated the court ruled there was no proper basis in the case. ## What the coverage left out None of the left-rated reports mentioned that the complaint was filed by BJP leader Vijay Mishra. None of the centre-rated reports mentioned that the complaint was filed by BJP leader Vijay Mishra or that the court ruled the remarks were not defamatory in nature. ## Who covered it Shares of the 10 covering outlets with a published leaning rating: - Left: 20% (2) - Centre: 20% (2) - Right: 60% (6) 17 of 27 covering outlets carried no usable leaning rating and were excluded from those percentages. Coverage measured 2026-10-26T07:15:11.795368+00:00. **Coverage watch:** developing. Checked 2 times; 0 checks found a material change. Most recently checked 2026-10-26T07:45:22.313Z. ## How the sides framed it ### Left - The left-rated reports from The Siasat Daily and Indian Express focused on the acquittal itself. The Siasat Daily provided details about the case, noting it related to remarks made by Gandhi against then BJP president Amit Shah and that the complaint was filed by BJP leader Vijay Mishra. It also stated the court ruled Gandhi's remarks were not defamatory. Indian Express reported the Sultanpur court acquitted Gandhi in the defamation case relating to his 2018 remarks against Amit Shah. ### Centre - The centre-rated reports from The Economic Times and Hindustan Times highlighted the relief for Rahul Gandhi. The Economic Times' full report was not available for detailed analysis beyond its headline. Hindustan Times reported that Congress MP Rahul Gandhi was reportedly acquitted in the 2018 defamation case over remarks against Amit Shah, according to the Congress party. ### Right - The right-rated reports from Latestly, aninews.in, Times of India, ABP News, India Today, and India TV News consistently reported on the dismissal of the defamation case and the relief for Rahul Gandhi. Latestly and aninews.in stated the case stemmed from remarks made by Gandhi in 2018 in Bengaluru, Karnataka, alleging "objectionable remarks" against Amit Shah. Times of India and India TV News noted the case originated from remarks Gandhi made about Amit Shah during a rally in 2018, with Times of India adding that BJP politician Vijay Mishra filed the complaint. ABP News reported the case dated back to 2018 and Gandhi appeared before the court for the verdict. India Today mentioned the case was filed by BJP leader Vijay Mishra and involved legal challenges over a voice sample. **Provisional coverage gap:** left. The watch is not closed, so this is not yet a settled blindspot finding. ## Factuality profile of the covering outlets These are published factuality ratings of the outlets, not a verdict on whether this story or its claims are true. - mixed: 5 - high: 4 - unknown: 17 - veryHigh: 1 ## Verification scope This page compares coverage and scores the source reporting. It is not a ClaimReview verdict on whether the underlying event or claim is true. ## Original reporting this was written from - [The English Post - Breaking News, Politics, Entertainment, Sports](https://theenglishpost.com/rahul-gandhi-acquitted-in-defamation-case-over-remarks-against-hm-amit-shah-297-2026-10-26) — Rahul Gandhi acquitted in defamation case over remarks against HM Amit Shah - [Samaydhara](https://samaydhara.com/india-news-hindi/politics/rahul-gandhi-defamation-case-verdict) — Rahul Gandhi Defamation Case: Rahul Gandhi Acquitted, Big Decision of the Court - [TV9 Hindi](https://tv9hindi.com/videos/rahul-gandhi-acquitted-in-defamation-case-by-sultanpur-court-3945555.html) — Rahul Gandhi Acquitted in Defamation Case, Sultanpur Court Gives Important Verdict - [KalingaTV](https://kalingatv.com/nation/2018-amit-shah-defamation-case-rahul-gandhi-acquitted-by-sultanpur-court) — 2018 Amit Shah defamation case: Rahul Gandhi acquitted by Sultanpur court - [tennews.in: National News Portal - Breaking News, Live News, Delhi News, Noida News, National News,](https://tennews.in/rahul-gandhi-acquitted-in-defamation-case-over-remarks-against-hm-amit-shah) — Rahul Gandhi acquitted in defamation case over remarks against HM Amit Shah - tennews.in: National News Portal - [madhyamam.com](https://madhyamam.com/india/rahul-gandhi-acquitted-amit-shah-defamation-case-1566442) — Defamation Case Against Amit Shah Dismissed by Sultanpur Court | Rahul Gandhi in 2018 Defamation Case over Remarks Against Amit Shah - [Yes Punjab](https://yespunjab.com/rahul-gandhi-acquitted-in-sultanpur-defamation-case-over-remarks-against-amit-shah) — Rahul Gandhi Acquitted in Sultanpur Defamation Case Over Remarks Against Amit Shah - [Orissa POST](https://orissapost.com/court-acquits-rahul-gandhi-in-defamation-case-over-remarks-against-amit-shah) — Court acquits Rahul Gandhi in defamation case over remarks against Amit Shah - OrissaPOST - [Asianet News Network Pvt Ltd](https://asianetnews.com/india-news/court-acquits-rahul-gandhi-in-defamation-case-over-remarks-against-amit-shah-articleshow-4vmbsle) — Rahul Gandhi Acquitted in Defamation Case for Remarks Against Amit Shah - [The Siasat Daily](https://siasat.com/rahul-gandhi-acquitted-in-2018-defamation-case-over-amit-shah-remarks-3564550) — Rahul Gandhi acquitted in 2018 defamation case over Amit Shah remarks - [Latestly](https://latestly.com/agency-news/india-news-relief-for-rahul-gandhi-sultanpur-mpmla-court-dismisses-defamation-complaint-7656935.html) — Relief for Rahul Gandhi, Sultanpur MP/MLA Court Dismisses Defamation Complaint - [Mathrubhumi](https://english.mathrubhumi.com/news/india/rahul-gandhi-defamation-case-dismissed-sultanpur-court-amit-shah-g5zq1prz) — Rahul Gandhi acquitted: Sultanpur court dismisses 2018 defamation case over Amit Shah remarks - [uttamhindu.com](https://uttamhindu.com/rahul-gandhi-acquitted-in-case-concerning-remarks-about-amit-shah-court-delivers-verdict-citing-lack-of-evidence) — Rahul Gandhi Acquitted in Amit Shah Remark Case, Court Pronounces Verdict Due to Lack of Evidence - [awazthevoice.in](https://awazthevoice.in/india-news/rahul-gandhi-gets-relief-as-court-rejects-defamation-complaint-69834.html) — Rahul Gandhi gets relief as court rejects defamation complaint - [TV9 Kannada](https://tv9kannada.com/national/rahul-gandhi-gets-relief-defamation-case-by-amit-shah-against-him-dismissed-1255102.html) — Big Relief for Rahul Gandhi: Court Dismisses Defamation Case Against Amit Shah - [NEWS9 LIVE](https://news9live.com/india/rahul-gandhi-acquitted-in-2018-defamation-case-on-remarks-against-amit-shah-3019054) — Rahul Gandhi acquitted in 2018 defamation case on remarks against Amit Shah - [aninews.in](https://aninews.in/news/national/general-news/relief-for-rahul-gandhi-sultanpur-mpmla-court-dismisses-defamation-complaint16020261026114527) — Relief for Rahul Gandhi, Sultanpur MP/MLA Court dismisses defamation complaint - [Hindustan Times](https://hindustantimes.com/india-news/rahul-gandhi-acquitted-in-2018-defamation-case-over-remarks-against-amit-shah-says-congress-101792995192769.html) — Rahul Gandhi acquitted in 2018 defamation case over remarks against Amit Shah, says Congress - [Times of India](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/rahul-gandhi-acquitted-in-2018-defamation-case-involving-amit-shah/articleshow/135204099.cms) — Rahul Gandhi acquitted in 2018 defamation case over remarks on Amit Shah - [navbharatlive.com](https://navbharatlive.com/india/rahul-gandhi-acquitted-defamation-case-sultanpur-court-pjs00) — Rahul Gandhi Acquitted in Defamation Case, Sultanpur MP-MLA Court Dismisses Case, for Commenting on Amit Shah - [Indian Express](https://indianexpress.com/article/india/sultanpur-court-acquits-congress-leader-rahul-gandhi-in-defamation-case-10937012) — Rahul Gandhi acquitted in defamation case over 2018 remarks against Amit Shah - [livelaw.in](https://livelaw.in/top-stories/sultanpur-court-acquits-lop-rahul-gandhi-2018-defamation-amit-shah-555906) — Breaking: Sultanpur Court Acquits LoP Rahul Gandhi In 2018 Defamation Case Over Remarks Against Amit Shah - [ABP News](https://news.abplive.com/news/india/rahul-gandhi-defamation-case-special-mp-mla-court-dismisses-case-amit-shah-remark-karnatak-elections-1873175) — Rahul Gandhi Gets Relief In Amit Shah Defamation Case, Sultanpur Court Dismisses Plea - [India Today](https://indiatoday.in/india/story/rahul-gandhi-acquitted-by-up-court-in-2018-defamation-case-linked-to-remarks-about-amit-shah-at-karnataka-ra-3025066-2026-10-26) — Rahul Gandhi acquitted by UP court in 2018 Amit Shah defamation case - [India TV News](https://indiatvnews.com/news/india/breather-for-rahul-gandhi-as-special-court-dismisses-2018-criminal-defamation-case-2026-10-26-1057930) — Rahul Gandhi acquitted by Sultanpur district court in 2018 criminal defamation case - [The Economic Times](https://m.economictimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/rahul-gandhi-gets-relief-as-sultanpur-court-dismisses-2018-defamation-case/articleshow/135203454.cms) — Rahul Gandhi gets relief as Sultanpur court dismisses 2018 defamation case - [Social News XYZ](https://socialnews.xyz/2026/10/26/rahul-gandhi-acquitted-in-defamation-case-over-remarks-against-hm-amit-shah) — Rahul Gandhi acquitted in defamation case over remarks against HM Amit Shah ## Questions **What was Rahul Gandhi acquitted of?** Rahul Gandhi was acquitted by a court in Sultanpur, Uttar Pradesh, in a 2018 criminal defamation case. The case was related to alleged remarks he made about Amit Shah. **Who filed the defamation complaint against Rahul Gandhi?** The defamation complaint against Rahul Gandhi was filed by BJP leader Vijay Mishra. The case concerned remarks Gandhi allegedly made about Amit Shah in 2018. **What was the court's ruling in the defamation case?** The court ruled that Rahul Gandhi's remarks, which were the subject of the defamation case, were not defamatory in nature. This led to his acquittal. --- MediaBias News — https://mediabias.news. Reproduced from https://mediabias.news/politics/sultanpur-court-acquits-rahul-gandhi-in-2018-defamation-case. Please cite as: MediaBias News, "Sultanpur court acquits Rahul Gandhi in 2018 defamation case", https://mediabias.news/politics/sultanpur-court-acquits-rahul-gandhi-in-2018-defamation-case