Hathras, Uttar Pradesh: Three youths recently acquitted by the court in the Hathras case have sent a defamation notice of ₹1.50 crore to senior Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, demanding ₹50 lakh each as compensation. The notice, filed by advocate Munna Singh Pundir, claims that Rahul Gandhi’s statements and social media posts have tarnished their reputation.
The acquitted individuals—Ravi, Ramu, and Lavkush—objected to being labeled as “murderers and rapists” by Rahul Gandhi. These allegations stem from the tragic case of a young woman from a Scheduled Caste family who was attacked on September 14, 2020, in Boolgarhi village. Initially, the victim’s brother filed a complaint against Sandeep, a villager. Based on the victim’s subsequent statement, the names of Ravi, Ramu, and Lavkush were added to the case.
The victim succumbed to her injuries on September 29, 2020, at Delhi’s Safdarjung Hospital, sparking nationwide protests. Following the incident, all four accused were arrested and sent to jail. The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) took over the case and filed a chargesheet in a Special Court under the SC/ST Act.
On March 2, 2023, the local court acquitted Ravi, Ramu, and Lavkush due to a lack of evidence. However, Sandeep was found guilty under Section 304 of the Indian Penal Code and the SC/ST Act and sentenced to life imprisonment.
Rahul Gandhi visited Boolgarhi on December 12, 2020, to meet the victim’s family. After his visit, he made statements on social media, including a post on platform X (formerly Twitter), which read:
“Keeping the family of the rape victim locked in their house and the gangrape accused roaming around freely is against the basic spirit of Baba Saheb’s Constitution.”
The acquitted individuals allege that this post was part of a politically motivated agenda and deliberately harmed their character, reputation, and integrity. They have described Gandhi’s comments as defamatory and claim they were made without regard for the court’s findings.
The matter has also been raised in Parliament, drawing widespread attention. The defamation notice demands an apology and financial compensation for the alleged damage caused to the acquitted youths’ personal and social lives.