Thane (Maharashtra), May 8 (IANS): Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi appeared before a Thane court in connection with a criminal defamation suit here on Friday.

The case was filed against him following his speech about the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and Mahatma Gandhi's assassination during the 2014 Lok Sabha election campaign.

Gandhi appeared before Bhiwandi Judicial Magistrate D.P. Kale, a day after the Supreme Court suspended the suit filed by RSS activist Rajesh Kunte.

After hearing both sides, Magistrate Kale adjourned the matter to September 30, said senior Congress leader and state legislative council member Sanjay Dutt, who accompanied Gandhi along with thousands of party activists to the court.

Earlier, the Bombay High Court declined Gandhi's appeal to quash the defamation case against him pertaining to an election speech in Sonale village (Thane) on March 6, 2014, in which he alleged "RSS people killed Gandhiji".

The apex court has fixed the next date of hearing on July 8.