Rahul Gandhi Likely To File Appeal Against His Conviction In Surat Court

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi is likely travel to Surat, Gujarat today to appeal against his conviction in a criminal defamation case.

According to the media, Rahul Gandhi, along with his sister & Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi, will leave for Surat in a chartered plane. They are expected to reach Surat around 12.30.

Extending their support to Rahul Gandhi, chief ministers of Congress-ruled states Himachal Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Rajasthan will also arrive in Surat court today.

According to Kirit C Panwala, Rahul Gandhi will be present in the court when the plea is filed against the lower court’s order sentencing him to 2 years in jail in the ‘Modi surname case.

Earlier on Sunday, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi met his mother and former party president Sonia Gandhi ahead of his appearance in a Surat court to appeal against his conviction in the case.

Rahul met Sonia Gandhi at a hotel in the national capital for more than 1.5 hours. He was accompanied by his brother-in-law Robert Vadra.

Previously, the court of CJM HH Varma on March 23 had sentenced Rahul Gandhi to 2 years in jail in the 2019 criminal defamation case filed against him over his ‘Modi surname’ remarks. He was disqualified from the Lok Sabha the following day.

The delay by Rahul to file an appeal against the March 23 order led to speculation that it might be a deliberate political move by projecting the Congress leader as a “victim of vendetta politics”.

However, Congress sources stated that Rahul’s legal team was taking time in drafting the appeal as the verdict in the case would have a bearing on similar cases against him in Patna & Ranchi.

The defamation case was filed against Gandhi by Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MLA and former Gujarat minister Purnesh Modi for saying, “How come do all thieves have the common surname, Modi?”

Gandhi also faces another defamation case filed by former Bihar deputy chief minister Sushil Kumar Modi for his 2019 remarks. A Patna court has reportedly directed the Congress leader to appear before it on April 12 in connection with the case.

Furthermore, he was disqualified from the Lok Sabha following his conviction on March 24 by the Surat court in the criminal defamation case. He would not be able to contest elections for eight years unless a higher court stays his conviction and sentence.

Rahul`s disqualification is the latest in a series of flashpoints between the Congress and the ruling BJP, with a united Opposition calling it a ploy to divert public attention from the Adani issue.