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PremiumRahul Gandhi defamation case LIVE: The Gujarat High Court on 7 July pronounced its verdict on Congress leader Rahul Gandhi's plea seeking a stay on his conviction in a criminal defamation case over his Modi surname remark. The Gujarat High Court has acknowledged the existence of 10 additional criminal defamation complaints against Gandhi. The court further stated that the order issued by the sessions court did not warrant any interference in the matter.
Earlier in May, Justice Prachchhak, while hearing Gandhi's plea, had refused to grant any interim relief saying it will pass a final order after the summer vacation, which ended three weeks back. During a hearing on April 29, Gandhi's lawyer had argued that a maximum punishment of two years for a bailable, non-cognisable offence meant his client could lose his Lok Sabha seat "permanently and irreversibly", which was a "very serious additional irreversible consequence to the person and the constituency he represents".
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P Chidambaram claimed that the highest penalty of two years has never been imposed in a defamation case throughout the 162-year existence of the Indian Penal Code. He further alleged that the defamation suit filed against Rahul Gandhi was aimed at disqualifying Rahul Gandhi from Parliament, suggesting ulterior motives behind the lawsuit.
Congress workers and leaders in Goa on Friday staged a protest against the Gujarat High Court's refusal to stay party leader Rahul Gandhi conviction in a criminal defamation case over his "Modi surname" remark.
Chief Minister Pramod Sawant, however, termed the Congress’ protest as “unwarranted" and said Gandhi should stop making irresponsible statements against “big leaders and “freedom fighters".
Karnataka Deputy CM DK Shivakuma has said that Rahul Gandhi's conviction is a big conspiracy by the BJP. “This is a big conspiracy of BJP...BJP with its party cadre has filed a complaint and a verdict has come on it, such a verdict has never come...nobody can stop Gandhi family and Rahul Gandhi," he said.
Congress leader Abhishek Singhvi said, "Defamation law was misused...We trust the law system, the judiciary and the Supreme Court but the court above the apex court is people's court. We are showing the people the cottage industry of hurling accusations set up by BJP workers so that free speech stops..."
Following the dismissal of Rahul Gandhi's plea by the Gujarat High Court, Congress workers took to the streets in protest. The plea sought a stay on his conviction in the 'Modi Surname' defamation case. The decision of the court sparked outrage among party supporters, leading to demonstrations.
Congress will move the Supreme Court against the Gujarat high court's refusal to stay Rahul Gandhi's conviction in the ‘Modi surname’ defamation case.
BJP leader and MP from Bhopal, Sadhavi Pragya Singh Thakur has commented after Gujarat High Court upholds Sessions Court's order denying stay on conviction of Rahul Gandhi in the defamation case against 'Modi surname' remark. She said, “Rahul Gandhi's comment is a comment on the entire society...The court has punished him...The court has not accepted his application, meaning the law is the same for everyone. If you commit a crime, you are bound to serve the punishment...He has committed another crime which is of not apologising...This doesn't seem right, nobody is above the law..."
With the Gujarat High Court on Friday refusing to stay Rahul Gandhi's conviction in a criminal defamation case, BJP MLA Purnesh Modi, who filed the complaint against the Congress leader, said that everyone should accept the Court's order and that is 'Satyamev Jayate' in is its real sense.
Gujarat High Court on Friday upheld Sessions Court's order denying stay on the conviction of Rahul Gandhi in the defamation case against 'Modi surname' remark.
Purnesh Modi had filed a complaint against Rahul Gandhi over the remark in a Surat court.
"We welcome today's verdict by the High Court...He should think about it and not create such history," Purnesh Modi said answering a query.
“Rahul Gandhi gave us the slogan of ‘Daro Mat’, which is why we are not scared, and he also gave us the slogan ‘Ladenge’, hence we will continue our fight," Congress leader Alka Lamba told news agency PTI.
She also noted that the action against former Congress President has been taken because he questioned PM Modi on his relationship with inustrialist Gautam Adani.
Rahul Gandhi news LIVE: In a tweet on Friday, senior lawyer Prashant Bhushan noted that the Gujarat High Court was exposed its weakness by refusing to stay the judgement in Rahul Gandhi defamation case. He wrote on Twitter, “The refusal of the Gujarat HC to stay the ridiculous conviction of Rahul Gandhi for defamation (due to which he has been disqualified from Parliament), exposes the weakness of the Gujarat judiciary. Hopefully, the Supreme Court will set this right."
Rahul Gandhi news LIVE: Rahul Gandhi is fighting the battle for truth and people's interests against an "arrogant regime" which is adopting all tricks in the book to suppress the questions he is raising, Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra said.
While dismissing the plea, Justice Hemant Prachchhak noted that Gandhi was already facing 10 criminal cases across India, adding that the order of the lower court was "just, proper and legal" in handing over a two year jail term to Gandhi for his "Modi surname" remark.
In a long Twitter post in Hindi, Priyanka Gandhi quoted the poem "samar shesh hai...(battle is yet to be over)" by Ramdhari Singh 'Dinkar' and launched a scathing attack on the Modi government.
Rahul Gandhi is fighting the battle for truth and people's interests against this "arrogant regime", she said.
Rahul Gandhi news LIVE: Congress workers protest in Jammu against Gujarat HC order rejecting Rahul Gandhi's plea seeking stay on conviction over his Modi surname remark.
Rahul Gandhi news LIVE: Rajasthan Minister & Congress leader Pratap Khachariyawas says, "Congress committees are protesting across the country. People of the country are taking to the streets. Rahul Gandhi and Congress are being conspired against because BJP is scared of Rahul Gandhi & Congress. Rahul Gandhi's voice can't be stifled. He spoke against one individual, he didn't target a caste. This conspiracy will cost BJP, their countdown has begun. We will approach the Supreme Court..."
Rahul Gandhi news LIVE: BJP MP Ravi Shankar Prasad said, “..We would like to ask Congress - why can't you control Rahul Gandhi? Why can't you train him to speak properly? He is your leader. Had he apologised in this matter, it would have ended...It has become a chronic habit of Rahul Gandhi to abuse, defame & almost showering the worst kind of abuses against eminent leaders and organisations."
Rahul Gandhi news LIVE: The Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) has welcome Gujarat High Court's decision rejecting Rahul Gandhi's plea to stay his conviction in defamation case. The part said that Gandhi has 7-8 defamation cases against him, if he acts like this law will catch up with him.
Rahul Gandhi news LIVE: Rajasthan Congress workers sport a black band and carry out a protest march in Jaipur against the Gujarat High Court verdict on the defamation case against Rahul Gandhi over 'Modi surname' remark
Rahul Gandhi news LIVE: “This (HC Decision case on Rahul Gandhi) is a message for other leaders as well who are not mindful of the language they use in their speeches, and Rahul Gandhi was amongst them. He also is facing various other defamation cases for the same," says UP Deputy CM Keshav Prasad Maurya on Gujarat HC rejecting Rahul Gandhi's plea seeking stay on conviction over his Modi surname remark.
Rahul Gandhi news LIVE: The Gujarat High Court has rejected the review plea filed by former MP and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, seeking to stay the conviction in a criminal defamation case related to his 'Modi Thieves' remark. Read more here
Rahul Gandhi news LIVE: The Congress on Friday said it would move an appeal before the Supreme Court challenging the Gujarat High Court order dismissing party leader Rahul Gandhi's plea seeking a stay on his conviction in a criminal defamation case over his "Modi surname" remark.
AICC general secretary (organisation) K C Venugopal said, "There is one more option before us... the Supreme Court. Let's see. The Congress party will seek that option too".
Venugopal said this while addressing a party programme organised in Kozhikode district of northern Kerala.
His statement came soon after the Gujarat High Court dismissed Gandhi's plea, upholding the order of the lower court, describing it as "just, proper and legal".
Rahul Gandhi news LIVE: BJP spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla said that the Gujarat HC has shown the mirror to the Congress party. While speaking to news agency PTI, Poonawalla said, “Gujarat High Court has shown the mirror to the Congress party. Now, three levels of Court - Trial Court, Sessions Court and now High court have found Rahul Gandhi guilty. The Court not only refused to give relief to Rahul Gandhi, but also cited that he is a serial offender as he has various other cases against him."
Rahul Gandhi news LIVE: Congress leader Shaktisinh Gohil has said that Surat Court had no jurisdiction in the case as the comments by Rahul Gandhi were made in Karnataka. He said, "Rahul Gandhi spoke against Lalit Modi-Nirav Modi who looted the country and fled. He said this in Karnataka. Surat Court had no jurisdiction. The procedure was not followed. There is nothing concrete in Rahul Gandhi's case...We are absolutely sure that we will get justice..."
Rahul Gandhi news LIVE: Congress general secretary Randeep Surjewala termed it a "Travesty of justice".
"Instead of punishing 'Bank Fraudsters' like Nirav Modi, Ami Modi, Neeshal Modi, Mehul Choksi and ilk, the 'messenger' exposing the deceit and swindling of public money is being punished," Surjewala said in a tweet.
He said Rahul Gandhi has chosen the path of truth, of righteousness, of fearlessness and of seeking accountability from those in citadels of power.
"We will tread upon the path of truth and righteousness, come what may... Satyamev Jayate !" the Congress leader said.
Rahul Gandhi news LIVE: Congress leader Pawan Kumar Bansal has reacted on Gujarat HC rejecting Rahul Gandhi's plea seeking stay on conviction over his Modi surname remark. He told PTI, “We believe this decision (by the Gujarat HC) is wrong on the basis of facts and laws."
Rahul Gandhi news LIVE: BJP leader Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi has commented on Gujarat HC dismissing Congress leader Rahul Gandhi's plea seeking a stay on his conviction in a criminal defamation case over his 'Modi surname' remark. He told news agency PTI, “Some people think that freedom of speech is freedom to abuse. So the courts are doing their job and action is being taken under the purview of the law"
Rahul Gandhi news LIVE: Karnataka Deputy CM & Congress leader DK Shivakumar said, "Very unfortunate that justice has not prevailed. It is the murder of democracy. Still, the entire country & the Opposition parties stand by Rahul Gandhi. He is a great leader who is fighting across the country to unite it...BJP leaders are not able to tolerate this. They want to block him from Parliament...I feel he (Rahul Gandhi) will grow stronger..."
Rahul Gandhi news LIVE: Gujarat High Court verdict on defamation case against Rahul Gandhi | Lawyer of petitioner & BJP MLA Purnesh Modi, Advocate Harshit Tolia says, "We also placed on record a statement reported in newspapers wherein he (Rahul Gandhi) had said, "I am not Veer Savarkar, won't say sorry." The other side did not deny it. The Court considered it at this stage..,"
Rahul Gandhi news LIVE: After the Gujarat High Court's verdict, Congress workers staged protest in support of Rahul Gandhi at AICC office in Delhi.
Rahul Gandhi news LIVE: AICC gen secy K C Venugopal said, “Will move SC against Gujarat HC order dismissing Rahul Gandhi's plea to stay his conviction in defamation case"
After the Gujarat High Court verdict, Congress General Secretary Jairam Ramesh in a tweet wrote, “We have noted the verdict of the single-judge bench of the Gujarat High Court on the disqualification of Rahul Gandhi. The reasoning of the Hon'ble judge is being studied, as it should be, and Dr. Abhishek Singhvi will be briefing the media in detail at 3pm. The judgement only redoubles our resolve to pursue the matter further."
"...Everyone should accept the Court's order. That is Satyamev Jayate in its real sense..." says BJP MLA Purnesh Modi after Gujarat High Court upholds Sessions Court's order denying stay on conviction of Rahul Gandhi in the defamation case against 'Modi surname' remark
Purnesh Modi had filed the complaint against Rahul Gandhi over the remark.
Rahul Gandhi defamation case verdict: BJP MLA Purnesh Modi welcomed the verdict pronounced by the High court. He said, "...We welcome today's verdict by the High Court…He should think about it and not create such histories..."
When asked about Court's observation, he said that Rahul Gandhi has had a history of making such remarks.
Rahul Gandhi defamation case verdict: "Even after the present case, some more cases filed against him. One such is filed by the grandson of Veer Savarkar. In any way, the conviction would not result in any injustice," said the high court, requesting the sessions court to decide Gandhi's appeal on merits as early as possible.
Rahul Gandhi defamation case verdict: Prior to the verdict, "Some conspiracy is going on against our leader. We are just waiting for the Court's verdict in Gujarat. Let us see, we will react later. I will come back to you after the verdict."
Rahul Gandhi defamation case verdict: Rahul Gandhi will not be able to contest elections or seek revocation of the suspension of his status as a Member of Parliament (MP). He can now appeal the High Court order in Supreme Court.
Rahul Gandhi defamation case verdict: Gujarat high court refuses to stay his conviction and two-year jail term in a criminal defamation case, costing him his Parliament membership.
In the order, HC notes there are at least 8 other criminal defamation complaints pending against Gandhi and that the sessions court order doesn't warrant any interference.
The High Court further noted that at least 10 criminal cases are pending against Rahul Gandhi.
Read more here
Rahul Gandhi defamation case verdict: A stay on conviction would pave the way for Gandhi's reinstatement as a Member of Parliament (MP).
Rahul Gandhi defamation case verdict: In April, The sessions court in Gujarat’s Surat city dismissed Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s plea for a stay on his conviction in a criminal defamation case over his “Modi surname" remark. After which, Gandhi appealead in Gujarat HC. Back in April, during one of the hearings, Rahul Gandhi's lawyer had argued that a maximum punishment of two years for a bailable, non-cognisable offence meant his client could lose his Lok Sabha seat "permanently and irreversibly", which was a "very serious additional irreversible consequence to the person and the constituency he represents".
In May, Justice Prachchhak, during the hearing of Rahul Gandhi's plea, declined to provide interim relief, stating that a final order would be issued after the conclusion of the summer vacation, which ended three weeks ago.
Rahul Gandhi defamation case verdict: Rahul Gandhi was elected to the Lok Sabha from Wayanad in Kerala in 2019, but was disqualified a day after a metropolitan magistrate court in Surat on March 23 sentenced him to two years in jail in the case filed by Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MLA Purnesh Modi under sections 499 and 500 (defamation) of the Indian Penal Code
Rahul Gandhi defamation case verdict: In 2019 while campaigning for the Lok Sabha elections, Rahul Gandhi had said "How come all thieves have the common surname Modi", targeting the Prime Minister over his surname, which he shares with fugitive businessman Nirav Modi and Lalit Modi.
Rahul Gandhi defamation case verdict: Karnataka's Chief Minister Siddaramaiah is set to present the state budget today at 12 pm. Catch all LIVE updates here
Rahul Gandhi defamation case verdict: Karnataka Deputy CM DK Shivakumar says, "Some conspiracy is going on against our leader. We are just waiting for the Court's verdict in Gujarat. Let us see, we will react later. I will come back to you after the verdict."
Rahul Gandhi defamation case LIVE: The Gujarat High Court will deliver on Friday its verdict on Congress leader Rahul Gandhi's plea seeking a stay on his conviction in a criminal defamation case over his Modi surname remark. As per the cause list issued by the HC on Thursday, the court of Justice Hemant Prachchhak will deliver the verdict at 11 am. A stay on conviction would pave the way for Gandhi's reinstatement as a Member of Parliament (MP). Read more here
