On his way back from a court appearance in Sultanpur, Uttar Pradesh, in connection with a defamation case, Rahul Gandhi made an unexpected stop at a cobbler's shop. The Congress leader spoke with cobbler Ram Chet about his family's struggles and later sent him a sewing machine to help with his work. This gesture was praised by the UP Congress as a sign of Gandhi's commitment to supporting the poor and oppressed. The defamation case against Gandhi, filed by BJP leader Vijay Mishra in 2018, concerned remarks he made about Amit Shah during the Karnataka elections. Gandhi, who claims innocence, had his statement recorded in court, and the next hearing is scheduled for August 12.