Ahmedabad, April 8: The Gujarat court Monday issued summons to Congress president Rahul Gandhi and party spokesperson Randeep Surjewala in a criminal defamation case filed by Ahmedabad District Cooperative Bank (ADCB), reports PTI.

The case is related to the separate criminal defamation cases against Gandhi and Surjewala for their remarks on the bank in connection with an RTI filed on demonetisation in 2018. It is to be known BJP president Amit Shah is also a director in ADCB. Rahul Gandhi Challenges Narendra Modi to Debate on Corruption. 

The Ahmedabad District Cooperative Bank (ADCB) and its chairman Ajay Patel had filed the cases after Gandhi and Surjewala in their press meet on June 22 last year alleged, quoting an RTI reply, that the bank exchanged junked notes worth Rs 745.58 crore in five days after demonetisation was announced.

Surjewala had also alleged that ADCB chairman Patel is a “close associate of BJP president Amit Shah who is a director and former chairman of the bank”. Surjewala had demanded a probe and alleged the RTI reply has “exposed an attempt to convert black money into white money in the guise of demonetisation”.

Even Gandhi had tweeted about the same and wrote, "Congratulations Amit Shah ji, Director, Ahmedabad Dist Cooperative Bank, on your bank winning 1st prize in the conversion of old notes to new race. 750 Cr in 5 days! Millions of Indian whose lives were destroyed by Demonetisation, salute your achievement."

After this, cases were filed in metropolitan magisterial court, which ordered an inquiry under CrPC.

(With inputs from agencies)

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Apr 08, 2019 07:36 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).