New Delhi:A Maharashtra court has deferred till October 27 framing of charges against Rahul Gandhi in the defamation case filed against him by an RSS worker in connection with his alleged statement about Mahatma Gandhi's assassination.

The court in Thane accepted the Congress leader's plea for exemption from appearance, a lawyer said.

Framing of charges is a stage before the start of trial.

Advocate Narayan Iyer, Rahul Gandhi's lawyer, told the court that his client could not remain present today as a Parliament session is underway and he has to also attend a meeting in Chhattisgarh.

The court granted the Congress leader exemption and adjourned the hearing to October 27, Iyer said.

The case against Rahul Gandhi was filed by a local RSS functionary, Rajesh Kunte, over the Congress leader's speech at Bhiwandi in Thane district on March 6, 2014 in the run-up to the LokSabha polls.

During the rally, Rahul allegedly said, "The RSS people had killed (Mahatma) Gandhi." 

He had said he was ready to face trial after the Supreme Court refused to interfere in the criminal proceedings at Bhiwandi court.