Defamation Case: Surat Court Rejects Rahul Gandhi's Plea Against Conviction

A sessions court in Gujarat's Surat on Thursday rejected Congress leader Rahul Gandhi's plea seeking a stay on his conviction in a 2019 criminal defamation case over his 'Modi surname' remark. A stay order from the court could have paved the way for the reinstatement of Rahul Gandhi's Parliament membership. Now, with the rejection of his plea, the former Member of Parliament from Wayanad will have to wait further for relief in the case. Some senior Congress leaders said that the party will now appeal against the order in the Gujarat High Court. Reacting to the judgement, Congress leader Rashid Alvi said that no leader has been awarded a maximum punishment of two years in a defamation case and the Congress will appeal against the order in the higher court. 

Surat Court Reserved Order On April 13

The Surat court of Additional Sessions Judge RP Mogera had on April 13 reserved its verdict on Rahul Gandhi's application for a stay on conviction. Rahul Gandhi had filed his plea on April 3 seeking a stay on a lower court's order sentencing him to two years in jail in the defamation case. In his plea, the former MP had had submitted that the trial court's tratment towards him in the case was harsh after being overwhelmingly influenced by his status as an MP.

What Is The Next Move Of Congress?

The Congress party has kept all options open in the case. Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh said that the party will continue to avail all options still available under the law. "We will continue to avail all options still available to us under the law. Dr A M Singhvi will brief the media on Rahul Gandhi's appeal at 4 pm," Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh said in a tweet.

What Is The Case?

During an election rally in Kolar of Karnataka on April 13, 2019, Rahul Gandhi had said, "How come all thieves have Modi as the common surname?" Gujarat BJP MLA MLA Purnesh Modi had then filed a case against Gandhi under sections 499 and 500 (defamation) of the Indian Penal Code. On March 23 this year, the trial court convicted Gandhi in the case while awarding him a maximum punishment of two years. The court had also granted a bail to Gandhi while allowing him 30 days to appeal against the order.

What Is Congress Party's Stand On The Issue?

The Congress party had challenged the order in the court. In his appeal agains the conviction, Rahul Gandhi's lawyer had contended that the trial in the case was not fair. Gandhi had said in his plea that if the March 23 judgment is not stayed, it will cause irreparable damage to his reputation. He contended that the excessive punishment in this case was unwarranted and has overriding political overtones. In his plea, Rahul Gandhi also termed his conviction erroneous and patently perverse.