The case is related to a criminal defamation case for “Modi surname” remark
Team News Riveting
Surat, March 23
A Surat Court of Law in Gujarat on Thursday convicted Congress leader Rahul Gandhi in a 2019 criminal defamation case for his remark “all thieves have Modi surname”.
Gandhi was granted bail in the matter by the trial court and the sentence would remain suspended for 30 days to enable him to file appeal. The former Congress President had linked Prime Minister Narendra Modi with fugitives like Nirav Modi and Lalit Modi during a political campaign in Karol.
He had said, “Nirav Modi, Lalit Modi, Narendra Modi. How come all the thieves have ‘Modi’ as a common surname?” The petitioner, Purnesh Modi moved the Court claiming that by the statement of Rahul Gandhi defamed all the persons with ‘Modi’ surname.
The Gujarat High Court recently vacated the stay on the trial in the case pursuant to which the trial resumed.
Rahul Gandhi cited a quote from Mahatma Gandhi after a Surat court pronounced him guilty in a 2019 criminal defamation case. “My religion is based on truth and non-violence. Truth is my God, non-violence the means to get it,” Rahul Gandhi wrote on Twitter.
The Congress leader was present in the court of Chief Judicial Magistrate H H Varma during the verdict.
The court’s decision drew sharp reactions from Opposition leaders, including Rahul’s sister and Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi.
“The whole scared machinery is trying to suppress the voice of @RahulGandhi ji by imposing price, punishment, discrimination. My brother has never been afraid, nor will he ever be. He has lived speaking the truth, and will continue to speak the truth. He will continue to raise the voice of the people of the country. The power of truth and the love of crores of countrymen are with him,” Ms Gandhi tweeted in Hindi.
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal alleged a “conspiracy” to “finish” Opposition leaders.
“There is a conspiracy to finish the Opposition leaders and parties. There is a conspiracy to file cases against the leaders of non-BJP parties. I have differences with Rahul Gandhi, but trapping him in a defamation case is not right. I respect the court, but don’t agree with the verdict,” Kejriwal said.
Congress chief Malikarjun Kharge, meanwhile, said the party will seek legal recourse to fight the conviction.
