Ahmedabad: A day after the Surat session court set aside Rahul Gandhi’s plea to put a stay on the trial court’s order in Modi Surname Case, the former MP from Wayanad is likely to challenge the lower court order next week in Gujarat High Court.
“The Surat Sessions Court has issued a verdict in the defamation case involving Rahul Gandhi, and the Congress party's central legal team intends to contest the decision in the Gujarat High Court. The team is expected to finalize its appeal by the coming weekend, after which a revision petition can be submitted to the Gujarat High Court by Monday or Tuesday,” Rahul Gandhi’s advocate Babu Mangukia said.
On Thursday Surat sessions court in Gujarat dismissed Rahul Gandhi’s plea to stay his conviction in a defamation case concerning his 2019 "Modi surname" comment. Consequently, Rahul Gandhi's reinstatement as a Member of Parliament is presently unattainable.
Rahul Gandhi had asked for his conviction to be put on hold while he challenged a court verdict that sentenced him to two years in prison. The Congress leader claimed that the trial court had been unduly harsh on him and had been significantly influenced by his status as an MP.
Previously the Surat court found Rahul Gandhi guilty for his speech on ‘Modi Surname’ and was subsequently given a two-year prison sentence. As a result, Rahul Gandhi lost his status as a member of the Parliament and was also asked to leave his official residence in New Delhi. Following the verdict, the lower court granted Gandhi bail for 30 days so that he could appeal against the decision.
Gandhi had been convicted and sentenced to two years by the Surat lower court for allegedly defaming the Modi surname during a public meeting in Pollar, Karnataka, in 2019 where he asked "How come all thieves have the common surname Modi?". BJP leader Purnesh Modi had filed a petition against Gandhi in the Surat lower court, claiming that his remarks had defamed the entire Modi surname. The Surat Sessions Court had also upheld the lower court's decision and dismissed Gandhi's petition.
The case has been ongoing for several years now, and the verdict of the Surat Sessions Court had brought it to a crucial point. However, with Gandhi's decision to appeal the verdict, the case is likely to continue for some time. It remains to be seen how the Gujarat High Court will respond to the appeal.
