The Surat District Court sentenced Congress leader Rahul Gandhi to two years in jail in a 2019 criminal defamation case filed against him for his alleged...
Digital Desk: The Surat District Court sentenced Congress leader Rahul Gandhi to two years in jail in a 2019 criminal defamation case filed against him for his alleged "Modi surname" remarks. A few hours later, the court granted him bail and extended the stay of its order by 30 days so that the Congress leader could appeal in a higher court.
The case was filed against Gandhi in response to a complaint lodged by BJP MLA and former Gujarat minister Purnesh Modi regarding remarks he made at a Lok Sabha election rally in Karnataka's Kolar on April 13, 2019.
"Why all the thieves, be it, Nirav Modi, Lalit Modi or Narendra Modi, have Modi in their names," the Congress leader had allegedly said during the rally.
In response to the court order outside Parliament on Thursday, Union Law Minister Kiren Rijiju said the Congress was "suffering" because of Gandhi's "attitude." "Whatever Rahul Gandhi says always has a negative impact on the Congress party and the entire nation," he told news agency ANI.
On Friday, Chief Judicial Magistrate HH Verma heard the final arguments in the defamation case.
Gandhi's counsel, Kirit Panwala, delivered the final arguments before the court. "We will today send a message to Rahul Gandhi to remain present on March 23 in the Surat district court. Most probably, he would be present in the court. We will get confirmation on Saturday," said Panwala.
Gandhi last appeared in court in October 2021 to record his statement in the case filed under Indian Penal Code (IPC) sections 499 and 500 (dealing with defamation).
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