Rahul Gandhi will face trial in the defamation case filed by right-wing Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) over the Congress vice-president's allegations that it had killed Mahatma Gandhi.

Giving time till July 27 to the 46-year-old Congress leader to file his side of the argument, the Supreme Court today said Rahul should either "apologise or face trial".

"You must face trial, case must be decided on merits, whether what you spoke was for public good or not," said a bench headed by Justice Dipak Misra.

The bench further observed that individuals can't make wholesale denunciation of a organisation unless they can raise the defence of public good or truth.

Counsel for Gandhi told the court that the statement was made on the basis of a high court judgment.

Congress spokesperson Randeep Surjewala made it clear that there is no question of backing out. He said, "Whatever Rahul says, he thinks and speaks; his statements are borne out of facts, so there is no question of expressing regret."



Rahul has so far maintained that his statement blaming the RSS for Gandhi's assassination was based on a High Court judgment and on the basis of certain documents. The court observed that the statement was arguably made on the basis of a court verdict but the case must be decided on merits.

RSS activist Rajesh Kunte had filed the defamation suit in a Maharashtra court against Gandhi. The Congress vice-president then moved the Supreme Court for quashing of the defamation proceedings.

Hearing Gandhi's plea, the apex court told Kunte that the purpose of the defamation law was not to promote litigation.

RAHUL TURNS DOWN SUPREME COURT'S OFFER



At an election rally in March last year, Rahul had accused the BJP's ideological mentor of killing Mahatma Gandhi in 1948. Gandhi was gunned down by Nathuram Godse when he was on his way to address a prayer meeting in Delhi.

Rahul later turned down the Supreme Court's offer to express regret for his comment and preferred to pursue the defamation case.

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