Gujarat Court Asks Rahul Gandhi To Appear Today In Defamation Case

In his speech at rally in Kolar on April 13, 2019 ahead of the Lok Sabha polls Gandhi while addressing a poll rally has allegedly defamed the entire Modi community

New Delhi: In connection with a criminal defamation case, Gujarat court has asked Congress leader Rahul Gandhi to appear on Friday to record his statement over his remark on the "Modi surname". Earlier this week, Chief Judicial Magistrate A N Dave had asked Gandhi to appear on October 29 for recording his statement further, after two new witnesses gave their testimony since the Congress leader last appeared before the court on June 24 this year.

Gandhi had already appeared once before the court in October 2019 and pleaded not guilty for his comment. "The court has directed Rahul Gandhi to appear on October 29 to record his further statement over the testimonies of two new witnesses. He is likely to remain present before the court between 3 pm and 6 pm on that day," Gandhi's lawyer Kirit Panwala said.

What’s the case against Rahul Gandhi?

In April 2019, BJP legislator from Surat Purnesh Modi had filed a complaint against Gandhi under Indian Penal Code Sections 499 and 500 that handle defamation cases. According to the allegations by MLA, Gandhi while addressing a poll rally in 2019 has allegedly defamed the entire Modi community.

In his speech at rally in Kolar on April 13, 2019 ahead of the Lok Sabha polls, the then Congress president had reportedly questioned, "Nirav Modi, Lalit Modi, Narendra Modi...how come they all have Modi as the common surname. How come all the thieves have Modi as the common surname?"

Purnesh Modi, who has become a minister in the new Gujarat government led by Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel, looks after the portfolios of road and building, transport, civil aviation, and tourism and pilgrimage development.

Since Gandhi's last appearance before the court, testimonies were taken of two more witnesses -- the then electoral officer of Kolar in Karnataka where the Congress leader made the speech, and a video recorder employed by the Election Commission to record his speech.

(With inputs from PTI)