Delhi: The Supreme Court will hear Rahul Gandhi’s plea to stay the verdict of guilty in the defamation case on Friday. Rahul Gandhi wants to stay the verdict of guilty in the defamation case on ‘Modi’ reference. Justices Prashant Kumar Mishra and B.R. Gavai will be considering the petition. Rahul Gandhi approached the Supreme Court after the Gujarat High Court rejected the demand to stay the verdict of guilty.
Last time the Supreme Court heard the petition filed by Rahul Gandhi, it had issued a notice to the petitioner Purnesh Modi and the Gujarat government. Subsequently, the complainant Purnesh Modi filed an affidavit in the court accusing Rahul Gandhi of arrogance. However, Rahul Gandhi gave a counter affidavit in the court that he will not apologize in the case.
Rahul told the Supreme Court that forcing him to apologize with criminal proceedings and consequences under the Representation of the People Act was a gross abuse of judicial process. Rahul also accused Purnesh Modi, BJP MLA and petitioner in Gujarat, of misusing the law.
The case is based on Rahul’s remark during an election rally in 2019, ‘Nirav Modi, Lalit Modi, Narendra Modi… Why is Modi with the names of all thieves’? The Surat Sessions Court sentenced Rahul to two years in prison in the defamation case against Purnesh Modi. With this verdict, Rahul was disqualified from the post of MP. Then Rahul approached the High Court. The High Court rejected the petition. This is why the Supreme Court was approached. The Supreme Court heard the case but did not grant an interim stay.
