Rahul Gandhi disqualified as Lok Sabha member after conviction in defamation case

NEW DELHI: Congress leader and Wayanad MP Rahul Gandhi was on Friday disqualified as a member of the Lok Sabha with effect from March 23, the date of his conviction in the criminal defamation case over his ‘Modi surname’ remark.

On Thursday (March 23), the Surat District Court 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.

Earlier in the day, Rahul Gandhi attended a meeting of party leaders in Parliament House.

“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, BJP MLA and former minister who had filed the case.

After the verdict, Rahul Gandhi had tweeted, “My religion is based on truth and non-violence. Truth is my God, non-violence the means to get it- Mahatma Gandhi”.