‘Modi Surname’ Defamation Case: Gujarat HC To Hear Rahul Gandhi’s Plea On May 2

Ahmedabad: The Gujarat High Court will hear the plea filed by Congress chief Rahul Gandhi within the 2019 `Modi surname` defamation case on May 2. This comes after Senior Advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi, showing for Rahul Gandhi, made prolonged arguments right now earlier than Gujarat High Court. The complainant`s lawyer sought time to supply sure paperwork on report, after which the courtroom allowed it and adjourned the listening to to May 2.

Earlier on April 25, Rahul Gandhi moved the Gujarat High Court difficult the Surat Sessions courtroom verdict that rejected his plea in search of a keep on his conviction within the 2019 legal defamation case over the `Modi surname` comment.

A Surat courtroom on April 20 rejected Rahul Gandhi`s plea in search of a keep on his conviction within the 2019 legal defamation case. In his judgement, Additional periods decide Robin P Mogera had cited Gandhi`s stature as an MP and former chief of the nation`s second-largest political social gathering and mentioned he ought to have been extra cautious.

He cited prima facie proof and observations of the trial courtroom and mentioned it transpires that Gandhi made sure derogatory remarks in opposition to Prime Minister Narendra Modi other than evaluating folks with the identical surname with thieves.

Mogera mentioned the surname of the complainant within the case, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) lawmaker Purnesh Modi, can also be Modi. “…the complainant is [also an] ex-minister and involved in public life and such defamatory remarks would have certainly harmed his reputation and caused him pain and agony in society,” he mentioned.

Mogera cited the disqualification standards underneath the Representation of the People Act and added that elimination or disqualification as MP couldn’t be termed irreversible or irreparable loss or injury to Gandhi.

Earlier on April 3, the Sessions Court granted bail to the Congress chief. While granting bail to the previous MP, the courtroom had issued notices to Purnesh Modi and the state authorities.It heard each events after which reserved the order for April 20.

Rahul Gandhi was a Lok Sabha MP from Wayanad however was disqualified after a decrease courtroom in Surat sentenced him to 2 years in jail on March 23 underneath sections 499 and 500 (defamation) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) in a case filed by Purnesh Modi. The case pertained to a comment Rahul Gandhi made utilizing the surname `Modi` whereas addressing a marketing campaign occasion forward of the 2019 Lok Sabha elections.

At a rally in Karnataka`s Kolar in April 2019, Rahul, in a dig at Prime Minister Narendra Modi, mentioned, “How come all the thieves have Modi as the common surname?”. Following his conviction, Rahul was disqualified as an MP on March 24, as per a Supreme Court ruling in 2013. Under the ruling, any MP or MLA is mechanically disqualified if convicted and sentenced to 2 years or extra.