Rahul Gandhi Conviction Stay Plea: SC Issues Notice, Next Hearing on August 4

The Supreme Court on Friday has agreed to hear Rahul Gandhi Plea against Gujarat High Court, But said that any order can not be passed with out hearing to Prunesh Modi. Supreme Court Issued Notice and sought response of former Gujarat minister Purnesh Modi and the Gujarat state government.

A bench of Justice BR Gavai and Justice PK Mishra issued notice to Purnesh Modi, who in 2019 had filed a Criminal Defamation complaint against Rahul Gandhi for his remark “How is Modi the common surname of all thieves?” This Remark remarks was made during an election rally in Kolar, Karnataka on April 13, 2019.

While Sr Advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi Appeared for Rahul Gandhi, sought relief from the bench, the bench said, ‘The limited question at this stage is whether the conviction should be stayed.”

Advocate Singhvi, said the Congress leader has suffered for 111 days, has lost one Parliament session and is about to lose another. Bench said no any order can be passed with out hearing other Side. The apex court has fixed the matter for further hearing on August 4.

In his appeal filed on July 15, Rahul Gandhi has said that if the July 7 judgment is not stayed, it will lead to the stifling of freedom of speech, thought and expression.

The Congress leader was disqualified as a Member of Parliament on March 24 after a Gujarat court convicted him of criminal defamation for his comments about the Modi surname and sentenced him to two years’ imprisonment.

A stay on Gandhi’s conviction could have paved the way for his reinstatement as a Lok Sabha MP, but he failed to get any relief from the Sessions Court or the Gujarat High Court.