Congress’s Rahul Gandhi, Randeep Surjewala asked to appear before court in defamation case

The criminal defamation suit was filed by the Ahmedabad District Cooperative Bank & its chairman last year after the Congress leaders reportedly alleged the bank's involvement in a scam.

File photo of Congress president Rahul Gandhi with party spokesperson Randeep Surjewala | Ravi Choudhary/PTI

Ahmedabad: A local court here Monday issued summons to Congress chief Rahul Gandhi and the party’s spokesperson Randeep Surjewala in a criminal defamation suit filed by the Ahmedabad District Cooperative Bank (ADCB) and its chairman.

BJP president Amit Shah is a director in the bank.

The two complainants had moved the court last year after the Congress leaders reportedly alleged the bank was involved in scam to convert Rs 750 crore scrapped notes within five days of demonetisation in 2016.

Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate S K Gadhvi issued the summons to the two leaders after finding prima facie evidence against them, and asked them to remain present in the court on 27 May.