Supreme Court Petition Seeks Relief in Defamation Case for Rahul Gandhi, but The Modi Surname Case Saga Continues!
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has filed an affidavit before the Supreme Court, maintaining his innocence in the Modi surname case. The case stems from a comment he made during a rally in Karnataka’s Kolar in April 2019, where he took a dig at Prime Minister Narendra Modi, asking, “How come all the thieves have Modi as the common surname?”
‘Modi surname’ remark defamation case | Congress leader Rahul Gandhi tells Supreme Court that he has always maintained that he is not guilty of offence and that the conviction is unsustainable and if he had to apologise and compound the offence, he would have done it much… pic.twitter.com/SZk3hNfvw4
— ANI (@ANI) August 2, 2023
Mr. Gandhi has argued that he is not guilty of the offence and has requested the court to stay his two-year conviction, allowing him to participate in the Lok Sabha sittings and sessions. The complainant in the case, Gujarat BJP MLA Purnesh Ishwarbhai Modi, used derogatory terms like “arrogant” to describe Mr. Gandhi for refusing to apologise.
In response, Mr. Gandhi cotends that using the criminal process and consequences under the Representation of Peoples Act to force him into an apology is an abuse of the judicial system. He emphasises that he would have apologised much earlier if he thought he had done something wrong.
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The complainant has criticised Mr. Gandhi’s attitude, calling it arrogant and insensitive to the offended community. He maintains that Mr. Gandhi does not deserve any relief in the form of a stay on his conviction.
The controversy revolves around whether the comment made by Rahul was defamatory or not. He argues that the term “Modi” is a common surname across various castes and communities and did not target any specific individual or group.
The Gujarat High Court had previously upheld his conviction, leading to his disqualification as an MP from Kerala’s Wayanad. Mr. Gandhi is now appealing to the Supreme Court to overturn the decision.
Shri.Rahul Gandhi refuses to apologize over Modi surname case, calls complainant's remarks a 'gross abuse of the judicial process'. Files a rejoinder in SC. pic.twitter.com/UZC11q3E03
— KOUSAL SAMEER (@KousalSameer) August 2, 2023
The case has drawn attention to the issue of criminal defamation and the severity of the two-year imprisonment imposed on Mr. Gandhi. He claims that this is an unprecedented punishment for such a case and seeks relief from the court.
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As the case unfolds, it raises important questions about free speech, defamation laws, and the use of legal processes to silence political opponents. The Supreme Court’s decision will have significant implications for both Mr. Gandhi and the broader political landscape in India.
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