'Took His Name In Confusion': Rahul Gandhi Expresses Regret In Defamation Case Linked To Shivraj Singh Chouhan's Son

Published 25 June 2026 · politics

'Took His Name In Confusion': Rahul Gandhi Expresses Regret In Defamation Case Linked To Shivraj Singh Chouhan's Son Published By, Last Updated: June 25, 2026

'Took His Name In Confusion': Rahul Gandhi Expresses Regret In Defamation Case Linked To Shivraj Singh Chouhan's Son Published By, Last Updated: June 25, 2026, 15:00 IST The case stems from Gandhi's remarks made during a 2018 election rally in Jhabua, where he reportedly referred to the Panama Papers leak while taking Kartikeya Singh’s name Congress leader Rahul Gandhi | File photo Congress MP and Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, filed an application before the Madhya Pradesh High Court, expressing regret over an alleged defamatory statement linked to the son of Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, Kartikeya Singh. The case stems from Gandhi’s remarks made during a 2018 election rally in Jhabua, where he reportedly referred to the Panama Papers leak while taking Kartikeya Singh’s name.

During his Jhabua speech, Rahul Gandhi –– the then-Congress President –– had alleged that Kartikeya Singh, son of former Madhya Pradesh CM and Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, was named in the Panama paper leaks. Singh had then approached a special MP–MLA court in Bhopal, alleging that the remarks had damaged his reputation and image. The court had then issued summons to Gandhi, directing him to appear personally in connection with the matter. However, the Congress leader approached the Madhya Pradesh HC, seeking dismissal of both the summons and the defamation proceedings. In a written statement before the Madhya Pradesh HC, the LoP expressed regret over his remarks, stressing that the statement was not directed at Singh and that his name was “taken in confusion", according to a Bhaskar English report.

A single bench comprising Justice Pramod Kumar Agarwal has sought Kartikeya Singh’s response to Rahul Gandhi’s application. The next hearing of the case is scheduled for Thursday, June 26. About Panama Papers Leak The Panama Papers –– involving a leak of 11.5 million confidential files –– were a massive leak of financial documents from the database of Mossack Fonseca, a renowned law firm. The leak revealed details highlighting investment and offshore companies linked to prominent figures, including politicians, celebrities, and even criminals from around the globe. It came to the surface that several powerful individuals had established shell companies in countries to hide assets and escape tax liabilities. One of the notable names featured in the Panama Papers was Pakistan’s former Prime Minister, Nawaz Sharif — a controversial episode that cost him his premiership, eventually causing him to land in prison.