Defamation Case Against Rahul Gandhi: No Interim Relief From Gujarat High Court

New Delhi: The Gujarat High Court has refused to grant an interim stay on the conviction of Congress leader Rahul Gandhi in a criminal defamation case over his “Modi surname” remark in which he was sentenced to two years in jail by a Surat court. The court will give an order on his petition post the summer vacation, after June 4.

The former Congress president had sought an interim stay of the conviction till the High Court pronounced the order on his petition. Rahul Gandhi was convicted on March 23 under sections 499 and 500 of the Indian Penal Code for criminal defamation in the case filed by BJP MLA Purnesh Modi.

He was disqualified as a Member of Parliament after the Surat court’s decision. The law states that if a member is convicted of any offence for two or more years, his or her seat will be declared vacant. One can only stay in the parliament if the conviction is suspended.

Not only this, the senior Congress leader had to vacate his official residence, which he had since 2005, last month after losing his parliament membership. The Lok Sabha Housing Committee had sent him a letter to vacate his 12, Tughlaq Lane bungalow.