Modi Surname Case: The Gujarat High Court on Friday will pronounce its verdict on the review petition filed by Congress leader Rahul Gandhi in the defamation case related to the ‘Modi surname’ remark. On March 23, 2023, Surat’s sessions court sentenced Rahul Gandhi to 2 years. The next day his MP was gone.

Rahul had filed a review petition in the Surat court to reconsider the decision, but the court refused to hear it. Then Rahul Gandhi filed a review petition in the Gujarat High Court on 25 April. On May 2, the High Court had reserved its judgment in the matter.

Aftermath if decision on hold

If Rahul Gandhi’s sentence is stayed by the Gujarat High Court, then his disqualification can be removed and he will be able to contest the Lok Sabha elections in 2024. If the Gujarat High Court upholds the decision of the Surat Sessions Court, Rahul Gandhi will have the option of appealing before a higher bench of the High Court. Explain that as per the sentence, Rahul Gandhi is suspended as a Member of Parliament for two plus six years.

Modi surname case details

In fact, Rahul Gandhi, while addressing a rally in Kolar, Karnataka before the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, had said that ‘how is Modi the common surname of all thieves?’ Modi had filed the case.

On March 23, Surat Chief Judicial Magistrate HH Verma convicted Rahul Gandhi in a criminal defamation case and sentenced him to two years in prison. After being granted bail by the court, Gandhi’s lawyer Kirit Panwala applied for an appeal against the verdict before Surat Additional Sessions Court Judge RP Mogera.