Relief for Rahul Gandhi as SC pauses trial over 'Commander-in-Thief' remark on PM. The Supreme Court has stayed the criminal defamation trial against Rahul Gandhi over his alleged remarks calling PM Narendra Modi "leader of thieves" and "commander-in-thief" over the Rafale deal. The bench issued notice on Gandhi's plea, seeking a response within four weeks. Gandhi challenged the Bombay High Court's September 8 order refusing to quash the case.