Modi Surname Case: Congress to Approach Supreme Court After Gujarat HC Upholds Conviction of Rahul Gandhi

New Delhi: The Congress party has decided to approach the Supreme Court after the Gujarat High Court upheld the Sessions Court’s order denying a stay on the conviction of former Wayanad MP Rahul Gandhi in a defamation case. Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge expressed the party’s commitment to fight both the political and legal battles. Congress leaders criticized the High Court’s decision, calling it wrong on factual and legal grounds. They expressed confidence in the judiciary and believed that the Supreme Court would rule in Rahul Gandhi’s favour.

The Gujarat High Court’s ruling means that Rahul Gandhi will be unable to contest elections or seek revocation of his suspension as a Member of Parliament. Congress workers protested the verdict at the party headquarters in the national capital and carried out a protest march in Jaipur. Congress leaders deemed the decision a “murder of democracy” and emphasized their determination to pursue the matter further.

Congress leader Shaktisinh Gohil highlighted that the defamation case against Rahul Gandhi lacked concrete evidence and expressed certainty that justice would prevail in their favour. Cabinet ministers and party leaders condemned the ruling, stating that it was an attempt to target Rahul Gandhi and suppress his voice. They vowed to approach the Supreme Court to appeal the decision.

The defamation case stemmed from Rahul Gandhi’s remark during a rally in Karnataka, where he made a reference to the surname “Modi” in connection to certain individuals. The Surat sessions court had convicted Rahul Gandhi, resulting in his disqualification as a Lok Sabha MP. The Gujarat High Court had reserved its order on his plea for a stay on the conviction and subsequently denied interim relief.