Modi surname case: Gujarat HC rejects Rahul Gandhi's plea on stay of conviction

In a major setback for Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, the Gujarat High Court on Friday dismissed his plea seeking a stay on his conviction in a criminal defamation case over his Modi surname remark.

The bench of Justice Hemant Prachchhak reserved order on Gandhi’s plea on May 2.

A stay on his conviction would have paved the way for his reinstatement as a Member of Parliament (MP).

The criminal defamation case was filed over a remark made by Gandhi, a former MP, during the 2019 Lok Sabha campaign.

Referring to people like Lalit Modi, Nirav Modi, Gandhi had asked “why all thieves have the same surname?”.

Who had filed defamation case against Rahul Gandhi?

BJP MLA and former Gujarat minister Purnesh Modi had filed a criminal defamation case against Gandhi, alleging that the latter’s comment defamed the entire Modi community,

The Congress leader has maintained that there was no malafide intention on his part when he made the statement in question.

Gandhi was convicted on March 23, 2023, by the Court of Chief Judicial Magistrate, Surat, which sentenced him to two years imprisonment.

Following the court’s verdict, Gandhi was disqualified as a member of Lok Sabha. He was the MP from Wayanad in Kerala.

Gandhi’s sentence was, however, suspended on March 23 and he was also granted bail on the same day to enable him to move an appeal against his conviction within 30 days.

Gandhi approached the Surat Sessions Court on April 3, assailing his conviction and further seeking a stay on his conviction, which was rejected on April 20.

However, Surat Sessions Court on April 3 granted bail to Gandhi till the disposal of his appeal.

With inputs from agencies



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Umang Sharma

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