Congress ‘To Avail All Options’ As Surat Court Rejects Rahul Gandhi's Plea For Stay On Conviction In Modi-Surname Case

“We will continue to avail all options still available to us under the law,” tweeted Congress leader Jairam Ramesh after Surat court rejected Rahul Gandhi's plea seeking stay on conviction

Congress leader Jairam Ramesh said that Congress will continue to avail all options (Representational Image)

Source : PTI File Photo

The Congress on Thursday said it will continue to avail all options after Surat court rejected application by party leader Rahul Gandhi seeking stay on his conviction in the 2019 defamation case over ‘Modi-surname’ remark. “We will continue to avail all options still available to us under the law,” tweeted Congress General Secretary in-charge communications Jairam Ramesh. He also informed that Abhishek Manu Singhvi will hold a press conference at 4 pm today on Gandhi’s appeal. 

Karnataka Leader of Opposition and Congress leader Siddaramaiah also said that the party will move high court. "His (Rahul Gandhi) application was dismissed in the lower court, we will go to the higher court," he said. 

Rejection of plea also implies that Gandhi’s disqualification from Lok Sabha membership will also continue and will remain barred from contesting elections for eight years. He was also asked to vacate his government-allotted bungalow to which he responded in affirmative.

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

The court of Additional Sessions Judge RP Mogera had last week reserved its verdict for April 20. 

A case was registered against Gandhi after BJP leader Purnesh Modi filed a complaint against him for his “how come all thieves have the common surname Modi?” remark which he made during the 2019 poll campaign in Karnataka’s Kolar. 

On April 3, Gandhi moved the sessions court against the lower court's order. His lawyers filed two applications — one for a stay on the sentence (or bail till the disposal of his appeal) and another for a stay on conviction till the disposal of the appeal.

While granting Gandhi bail, the court issued notices to complainant Purnesh Modi and the state government on his plea for a stay on conviction. It heard both parties on Thursday last week.

Meanwhile, the Bharatiya Janata Party came heavily on the former Wayanad MP.

"We have always said that Rahul Gandhi started considering himself above law and some people from his party also asked why is he not getting special status?" said Union Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal