SC Stays Rahul Gandhi’s Conviction in ‘Modi Surname’ Defamation Case

New Delhi: As a major breather for Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, the Supreme Court, on Friday, stayed his conviction in a 2019 defamation case over his ‘Modi’ surname remarks. It will restore his MP status.

Rahul Gandhi approached the apex court when the Gujarat High Court dismissed his petition seeking to put his conviction on hold.

On March 23, a Surat court convicted Rahul Gandhi and sentenced him to two years in jail. On March 24, he was was disqualified as a Lok Sabha MP.

Surat sessions court granted him bail on April 20, but did not suspend his conviction. Rahul Gandhi challenged the order in Gujarat High Court.

The High Court said that there was no reasonable ground to pause the conviction.

The Congress leader filed a plea in the Supreme Court on July 15, challenging the Gujarat High Court’s order to not suspend his conviction in a defamation case. In his plea, Gandhi has urged the top court to suspend his conviction in the defamation case.