indiaUpdated: Oct 10, 2019 14:28 ISTCongress leader Rahul Gandhi on Thursday appeared before a Surat court in a defamation case and pleaded not guilty. Watch | Rahul Gandhi pleads not guilty for ‘thieves sharing Modi surname’ remarkSaying the defamation case filed against him was by his “political opponents, desperate to silence me”, the Gandhi took to Twitter and thanked Congress workers for their “support and solidarity”. I am in Surat today to appear in a defamation case filed against me by my political opponents, desperate to silence me. #SatyamevJayate pic.twitter.com/HZmAcEhciu — Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) 10 October 2019After Gandhi’s plea was recorded, his lawyers moved an application seeking a permanent exemption from personal appearance in the next hearings. Rahul Gandhi is scheduled to address election meetings in Maharashtra on 13th and 15th October and Haryana on 14th October.

Source: Hindustan Times October 10, 2019 05:29 UTC