SC Stays Rahul Gandhi’s defamation case conviction and reinstates his MP status

Rahul Gandhi’s conviction in a defamation case stemming from his comment about the “Modi surname” was stayed by the Supreme Court, reestablishing his authority as a member of Parliament. Justice BR Gavai noted that Gandhi’s conviction had broad repercussions, as it would impact the rights of voters who chose him. The case gets initiated by Purnesh Modi, a former Gujarat government minister, who launched an intentional defamation case against Gandhi in 2019. Justice Gavai questioned whether the Wayanad constituency’s representation was affected by the petitioner’s conviction and urged the trial judge to defend his decision.

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Supreme Court Stays Rahul Gandhi’s Conviction

Rahul Gandhi’s conviction for defaming the Modi surname stayed by the Supreme Court and reinstates his MP status

In an affidavit provided to the Supreme Court, Rahul Gandhi once more refused to retract his remark regarding Modi’s last name.

Supreme Court Chief Justice DY Chandrachud

“Gandhi’s conviction had broad repercussions,” SC Justice BR Gavai

Rahul Gandhi’s conviction in an offense of defamation case stemming from his remark about the “Modi surname” stayed by the Supreme Court on Friday, reestablishing his authority as a member of Parliament. When announcing the decision, Justice BR Gavai noted that Gandhi’s conviction had broad repercussions because it would also impact the rights of the voters who chose him.

What’s the whole issue ?

Gandhi’s comment, “In what ways appear all burglars have Modi as the common last name?” produced during a political rally at Kolar in Karnataka in April 2019, led Purnesh Modi, a previous minister in the Gujarat government, to launch an intentional defamation case against Gandhi in 2019.

Rahul Gandhi’s advocate’s remark

Senior attorney Abhishek Manu Singhvi, who was playing for Gandhi, argued that the case brought by BJP MLA Purnesh Modi against the Congressman was bizarre because none of the people he had mentioned in his speech got sued.

“It’s interesting to note that the only plaintiffs in this 13-crore-strong small community of complaints are BJP officeholders. Very odd,” he remarked.

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There are no boundaries, consistency, homogeneity, or recognition within those 13 crores. The first point is that. The second is that [Purnesh Modi] admitted that his real name was not Modi,” he added.

Justice BR Gavai’s remark

Justice BR Gavai questioned whether it was applicable that the Wayanad constituency did not have representation because of the petitioner’s conviction because the electorate’s right to vote became compromised. Gavai asserted that the trial judge must defend his decision to impose the maximum sentence.

Rahul Gandhi declined to apologize

Rahul Gandhi once again refused to apologize for his comment about the Modi surname in an affidavit submitted to the Supreme Court, which resulted in his conviction in the defamation case and subsequent expulsion from the Parliament. Instead, he pleaded with the court to stay his conviction because he was innocent.