Rahul Gandhi Case Live: Fight Against Mitrakaal, Says MP After Court Schedules Defamation Plea Hearing On May 3
Rahul Gandhi Case Live Updates: Congress leader, who has been disqualified from Parliament, to file an appeal against his conviction in a criminal defamation case today.
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Rahul Gandhi Case Live Updates: Hello and welcome to ABP Live, where we track every movement of Rahul Gandhi as he heads to Gujarat to file an appeal in court against his conviction in a defamation case over "Modi surname" remarks.
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi is expected to be in Surat city in Gujarat on Monday to file an appeal in court regarding his conviction in a criminal defamation case over his "Modi surname" remarks. Gandhi's lawyers have said that the sessions court will likely hear the matter on the same day, and the Congress leader will seek suspension of his sentence.
Several senior Congress leaders, including Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and chief ministers of three Congress-ruled states, are expected to accompany him to court. Senior party leaders, such as Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot, Congress Rajya Sabha member K C Venugopal, and Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel, will likely be in the city as Gandhi moves court.
On March 23, the court of Chief Judicial Magistrate H H Varma in Surat convicted 52-year-old Gandhi and sentenced him to two years in jail in a 2019 criminal defamation case filed against him over his "Modi surname" remarks.
The court granted him bail and suspended the sentence for 30 days to appeal in a higher court. On March 24, Gandhi was disqualified from the Lok Sabha following his conviction by the Surat court in the case.
The case was filed against Gandhi on a complaint by Bharatiya Janata Party MLA and former Gujarat minister Purnesh Modi for the Congress leader's alleged remarks “How come all thieves have Modi as the common surname?” Gandhi, who had served as an MP from Wayanad in Kerala, made the remarks while addressing a rally at Kolar in Karnataka on April 13, 2019, during the Lok Sabha elections campaign.
As per the Representation of the People Act, 1951, an MP or an MLA convicted for any offence and sentenced to imprisonment for not less than two years shall be disqualified from the date of conviction. The sentence of two years invited his disqualification from the membership of Parliament.
Rahul Gandhi Flies Back To Delhi From Surat
Rahul Gandhi is flying back to Delhi from Surat airport after filing an appeal in Surat District Court against his conviction in 2019 defamation case on 'Modi surname' remark He is being accompanied by sister Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, Chhattisgarh CM Bhupesh Baghel, and other leaders of Congress party.
#WATCH | Rahul Gandhi at Surat airport to take a flight back to Delhi after filing an appeal in Surat District Court against his conviction in 2019 defamation case on 'Modi surname' remark
— ANI (@ANI) April 3, 2023
He is accompanied by Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, Bhupesh Baghel&other leaders of Congress party pic.twitter.com/sd4DMlsjFq
Fight Against Mitrakaal: Rahul Gandhi After Court Schedules Hearing On May 3
Soon after the Surat sessions court agreed to hear his plea against the conviction in a defamation case, Rahul Gandhi has tweeted: "This is a fight to save democracy, against 'Mitrakaal'. In this struggle, truth is my weapon, and truth is my support!" The tweet was an apparent dig at PM Narendra Modi, whom Gandhi accuses of giving undue benefits of "friendship", to Gautam Adani.
ये ‘मित्रकाल’ के विरुद्ध, लोकतंत्र को बचाने की लड़ाई है।
— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) April 3, 2023
इस संघर्ष में, सत्य मेरा अस्त्र है, और सत्य ही मेरा आसरा! pic.twitter.com/SYxC8yfc1M
Rahul Gandhi Not To Appear In Court On April 13: Counsel
Rohan Panwala, an advocate from Rahul Gandhi's team of lawyers, said that Rahul Gandhi need not appear in person for the bail hearing on April 13. "We are confident that he will get the bail. Usually, these cases go on for a long time. Hence, bail is generally granted," he said.
Rahul Gandhi Steps Out Of Surat Court After Hearing
Rahul Gandhi is leaving Surat after the sessions court extended his bail till April 13 and agreed to hear his plea against the conviction in a defamation case on May 3.
Rahul Gandhi Case Live: Appeal In Surat Sessions Court Against His Conviction
Rahul Gandhi files an appeal in the Surat sessions court against his conviction in the defamation case.