Sultanpur: Five vehicles travelling at the rear of Congress MP Rahul Gandhi’s convoy collided with an ambulance on the Purvanchal Expressway in Uttar Pradesh, leaving several people injured, police said. Gandhi was safe after the accident near Haliyapur, as his convoy travelled towards Sultanpur.

The injured included Congress workers and security personnel. Police said the five vehicles involved were part of the rear section of the convoy. Further details about the number of people injured and the severity of their injuries were not immediately available.

The accident occurred around 100 km from Lucknow, the state capital, while Gandhi was travelling to Sultanpur to appear before a special MP-MLA court in connection with a defamation case involving alleged remarks about Amit Shah, the former BJP president.

Gandhi had arrived at Lucknow airport earlier in the day before beginning the road journey. The collision took place when the convoy was approximately 35 km from Sultanpur, where the court was scheduled to pronounce its verdict.

Five vehicles at rear of convoy involved

According to police, the five vehicles involved in the collision were travelling at the rear of Gandhi’s convoy. The accident occurred near Haliyapur on the Purvanchal Expressway.

The injured included party workers and security personnel. Gandhi was reported to be safe following the incident.

Visuals from the accident site showed an ambulance positioned in the right-hand fast lane, while several vehicles appeared bunched together in the other lanes. A Scorpio SUV with a visibly damaged bonnet was seen stopped in front of the ambulance, apparently following the impact.

The footage provided a glimpse of the aftermath, but the exact sequence of events leading to the collision was not established in the initial information available.

Police are expected to examine the circumstances of the accident, including the movement of the ambulance and the convoy vehicles, to establish how the collision occurred.

Rahul Gandhi was travelling to Sultanpur court

Gandhi was on his way to Sultanpur, approximately 135 km from Lucknow, to attend proceedings in a defamation case filed against him over alleged remarks about Amit Shah.

The Congress MP’s physical presence was required for the pronouncement of the judgment by a special MP-MLA court, according to the information provided.

The accident occurred when the convoy was around 35 km from its destination, disrupting the journey shortly before the scheduled court appearance.

The case dates back to August 4, 2018, when BJP leader Vijay Mishra, a former chairman of the Sultanpur District Cooperative Bank, filed a complaint against Gandhi.

The complaint concerned alleged remarks made by Gandhi about Amit Shah during a campaign rally in Bengaluru ahead of the 2018 Karnataka Assembly elections.

Background to the defamation case

The defamation complaint arose from Gandhi’s alleged comments about Shah when Shah was serving as BJP president.

Mishra approached the court over the remarks, leading to legal proceedings against the Congress leader. The matter subsequently came before a special MP-MLA court in Sultanpur.

The scheduled judgment made Gandhi’s visit to the district significant, as the court required his presence for the pronouncement, according to the supplied report.

The case has remained part of the political and legal exchanges between the BJP and Congress, with the complaint focusing on the alleged remarks made during the Karnataka election campaign.

The allegations in the case are distinct from the expressway accident, which involved vehicles travelling at the rear of Gandhi’s convoy and an ambulance.

Police to establish how the collision occurred

The collision on the Purvanchal Expressway left several people injured and raised immediate questions about how the ambulance and convoy vehicles came into contact.

While the available visuals showed the damaged Scorpio and the position of the ambulance, the precise cause of the crash had not been established in the initial account.

Further details about the injured, the extent of the vehicle damage and any subsequent traffic disruption were not immediately available.

The incident occurred during Gandhi’s journey to Sultanpur for the court proceedings. He was reported safe, while the injured included Congress workers and security personnel.

The exact circumstances of the collision will depend on the findings of the authorities examining the incident.