Surat court sentences Rahul Gandhi to two years’ imprisonment over ‘Modi surname’ remark, later grants bail
SURAT: The Surat District Court on Thursday sentenced Congress leader and Wayanad MP Rahul Gandhi to two years’ imprisonment in a criminal defamation case filed against him over his alleged ‘Modi surname’ remark.
He was later granted bail by the court. “The court has suspended the punishment for 30 days and granted bail to Rahul Gandhi”, said an advocate at Surat the district court.
“Rahul Gandhi is convicted under Section 499 and 500 of IPC. The sentence awarded is for 2 years and against that sentence…as per law, the court has granted him bail for 30 days and until his next appeal, the sentence is supended by court, said Ketan Reshamwala, advocate for Purnesh Modi
“My religion is based on truth and non-violence. Truth is my God, non-violence the means to get it- Mahatma Gandhi”, tweeted Rahul Gandhi after he was found guilty in the criminal defamation case.
मेरा धर्म सत्य और अहिंसा पर आधारित है। सत्य मेरा भगवान है, अहिंसा उसे पाने का साधन।
– महात्मा गांधी
— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) March 23, 2023
Meanwhile, Union Law Minister Kiren Rijiju said outside Parliament, “I will see the details of the order before I say anything. Whatever Rahul Gandhi speaks, it always affects the Congress party and the entire nation in a negative way. Some Congress MPs told me that because of his attitude, Congress is suffering”.
“He has been granted bail. We knew from the beginning because they kept changing judges. We believe in law, judiciary and we will fight against this as per law”, said Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge while reacting to the verdict.
Earlier on Thursday, Rahul Gandhi was held guilty by the district court in Surat in a 2019 criminal defamation case filed against him over his alleged ‘Modi surname’ remarks.
The Surat District Court pronounced the verdict, holding him guilty, in the case for his alleged remark “How come all the thieves have Modi as the common surname?” on a complaint lodged by BJP MLA and former Gujarat minister Purnesh Modi.
Rahul Gandhi had made the remarks about Modi’s surname at a rally in Kolar in Karnataka ahead of the 2019 Lok Sabha election. Last week, the court of Chief Judicial Magistrate H H Varma concluded hearing final arguments from both sides and set March 23 to pronounce its judgment in the four-year-old defamation case. (ANI)