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.
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.
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.
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 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 files an appeal in the Surat sessions court against his conviction in the defamation case.
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi reached sessions court in Surat today over his plea challenging his conviction in the 2019 defamation case over his ‘Modi-surname’ remark.
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi reaches Surat to file an appeal in sessions court against his conviction in the defamation case.
Rahul Gandhi's appeal has been filed in court. Hearing on the appeal against the lower court's decision on May 3 while the hearing regarding stay on sentence and conviction will be held at 3 pm.
Congress leader and Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot in Surat justified his presence by saying that the act is being done to save the country.
"We trust the judiciary. We are here to show our unity. We are doing 'satyagraha' to save the country. The country is seeing how Indira Gandhi's grandson and Rajiv Gandhi's son, Rahul Gandhi is being treated today," he said.
Babu Mangukiya, senior advocate representing Rahul Gandhi's legal team, told ABP Live that there will be two application files along with an appeal memo.
First: Application for Suspension of Sentence (This is an application for regular bail)
Second: Application for Suspension of Conviction
On the question posed by Law Minister Kiren Rijiju, he said that the Congress leader needs to be present because he has to sign the bail bond.
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi was spotted inside a private airline bus to onboard the flight to Surat.
Ahead of Rahul Gandhi's visit to Surat, Congress has alleged that their party workers are being arrested illegally. Party General Secretary Jairam Ramesh in a tweet shared some images claiming reports of "illegal arrests" by the BJP government of Gujarat to prevent their leaders and workers from going to Surat.
Sagar Bagmar, DCP Zone-4 Surat, told ANI that security around the areas where Congress leader Rahul Gandhi can be present has been increased and other measures are also being taken.
IN PICS | Security Beefed Up At Surat Court Ahead Of Rahul Gandhi’s Visit For Appeal In Defamation Case
"Given the presence of Rahul Gandhi in Surat district court the Surat city police have deployed the police force wherever there is a possibility of movement. We will also be starting frisking & checking," he said.
Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhwinder Singh Sukhu, who is set to accompany Rahu Gandhi in Surat, said no one can pressurise judiciary.
"We are going to Surat. Congress is the main opposition party and Rahul Gandhi is a big leader of our party. This is not a political drama. We stand by him," he said.
BJP national spokesperson Sambit Patra on Monday attacked Rahul Gandhi's move to reach Surat to appeal against his conviction. He said “they (Congress) will be creating mayhem in the name of appealing against the verdict” and questioned whether the party is trying to “pressurise the judiciary”.
Congress MP Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury defended Rahul Gandhi's step to visit Surat to file an appeal in Court while taking a jibe at BJP stating: "On one hand, you are saying that he should go to court but when he is going you are having a problem with it."
"Rahul Gandhi has said that he will not get afraid. He will not bow down before Amit Shah, Modi. He will go before the judiciary himself," he said on Monday.
Kiren Rijiju, Union Minister of Law and Justice, took a pot shot a Rahul Gandhi ahead of his planned visit to Surat to appeal against his conviction. The minister and senior BJP leader said that Rahul Gandhi's visit to the court with senior party members is a "drama" and a "childish attempt to bring pressure on the appellate court".
Former Congress President Sonia Gandhi and party General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra meet Rahul Gandhi at his residence in Delhi. The expelled Congress MP will today be going to Surat to appeal against the Magistrate court's order convicting him in a defamation case.
Background
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.
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