Several vehicles in Congress MP Rahul Gandhi's convoy collided on the Purvanchal Expressway in Uttar Pradesh on Monday while he was travelling to Sultanpur for a court hearing. Gandhi was safe following the accident, while there was no immediate information on injuries or the extent of damage to the vehicles.
A video of the incident shows several vehicles involved in a collision on the expressway, with an ambulance appearing to have hit vehicles from behind. It was not immediately clear whether the ambulance was part of Gandhi's convoy.
According to preliminary reports, a vehicle belonging to a Congress worker collided with the ambulance. Gandhi's vehicle was reportedly far ahead when the collision occurred.
Meanwhile, the Uttar Pradesh Police constituted a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe the accident, reported news agency PTI. The SIT will investigate the circumstances leading to the collision and examine whether any negligence or lapses in security, escort arrangements or traffic management contributed to the accident, an official statement said.
The Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha was travelling to Sultanpur to appear before a special MP-MLA court in connection with a 2018 defamation case. A Congress worker confirmed that Gandhi had reached the court following the accident.
Rahul Gandhi acquitted in 2018 defamation case
Hours after the incident, Gandhi was acquitted by the special MP-MLA court in the defamation case linked to his alleged remarks against Union home minister Amit Shah.
{{/usCountry}}Hours after the incident, Gandhi was acquitted by the special MP-MLA court in the defamation case linked to his alleged remarks against Union home minister Amit Shah.
{{/usCountry}}Gandhi, who was present in court when Magistrate Shubham Verma pronounced the verdict, was found not guilty of the charges.
The case was filed by BJP leader Vijay Mishra over remarks Gandhi allegedly made against Shah, who was then the BJP national president, during a press conference in Bengaluru ahead of the Karnataka Assembly elections in May 2018.
Mishra, a former chairman of the Sultanpur District Cooperative Bank, filed the defamation complaint on August 4, 2018. The case was initially filed in a civil court before being transferred to the special MP-MLA court.
The court issued summons to Gandhi on November 27, 2023, following which he appeared before it on February 20, 2024. He was granted bail on two sureties of ₹25,000 each.
During the proceedings, Gandhi denied the allegations and claimed that the case was a conspiracy by the ruling party. Magistrate Verma had directed him to remain personally present in court for Monday's verdict.