The Surat Sessions Court on Thursday reserved its verdict on an appeal filed by Congress leader Rahul Gandhi seeking a stay on the order of a magistrate court in a criminal case filed by BJP leader Purnesh Modi in 2019 over Modi’s surname. Justice Robin Mogera heard Gandhi and Modi before dismissing the case and said the order would be issued on April 20.
On March 23, a metropolitan court convicted Gandhi and sentenced him to two years in prison, blaming “Nirav Modi, Lalit Modi, Narendra Modi”. Why do all thieves share the surname ‘Modi’?” was heard during an election rally in Kolar, Karnataka. Following his conviction, Gandhi was disqualified from being a Member of Parliament, declaring his Wayanad Lok Sabha seat in Kerala vacant.
He appealed against the verdict and also asked for a postponement of the sentence. Rahul’s rejection became a major political flashpoint as opposition party leaders, including West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, condemned the obstruction. “In PM Modi’s new India, opposition leaders have become BJP’s main target! While BJP leaders with criminal backgrounds are brought into government, opposition leaders are rejected for their speeches. Today we have seen a new foundation for our constitutional democracy,” he said. tweeted on the 24th.
