On April 20, 2023, Surat Court rejected Rahul Gandhi’s request to pause his conviction in a defamation case filed against him for making the ‘Modi Surname’ remark. Gandhi had appealed against the court’s order sentencing him to jail for two years, but the rejection means he cannot be reinstated as a Member of Parliament from Wayanad.
According to trial court judge Robin Mogera, Gandhi failed to demonstrate that not staying the conviction and denying him an opportunity to contest the election would cause him irreversible and irrevocable damage.
Rahul Gandhi
The case stems from a speech during the 2019 Lok Sabha campaign in which Gandhi asked, “How come all thieves have the common surname Modi?” BJP MLA and former Gujarat minister Purnesh Modi filed the case against him, leading to Gandhi’s conviction and sentence on March 23. He was granted bail for 30 days to appeal the verdict.
Surat Court rejects Rahul Gandhi’s application seeking stay on his conviction in the 2019 defamation case on 'Modi surname' remark.
Despite having insulted the OBC community, calling them all ‘chor’, Rahul, shamefully remains defiant… His arrogant attitude reeks of entitlement. pic.twitter.com/QzNLgWfGdh
— Amit Malviya (@amitmalviya) April 20, 2023
We will continue to avail all options still available to us under the law. @DrAMSinghvi will brief the media on Rahul Gandhi's appeal at 4pm.
— Jairam Ramesh (@Jairam_Ramesh) April 20, 2023
With his Lok Sabha seat in Wayanad vacant and due for by-elections, a paused conviction could have reversed Gandhi’s disqualification as an MP. On April 3, he approached the sessions court against the lower court’s order and filed two applications: one to hold the sentence and another to pause his conviction until a decision on his appeal.
