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Rahul Gandhi case highlights: Political row erupts over Surat court's verdict

Rahul Gandhi defamation case highlights: Rahul Gandhi was present at the Surat court on Thursday as it convicted him in a defamation case dating back to 2019.
Congress MP Rahul Gandhi.
Congress MP Rahul Gandhi.

A local court in Gujarat's Surat given a two-year term to Congress MP Rahul Gandhi for a comment which he made in Karnataka ahead of the 2019 Lok Sabha elections where he wondered how ‘all thieves have Modi as the common surname’.  The verdict has been suspended for 30 days, on request of his legal team, to give him a chance to appeal the guilty verdict....Read More

The court's verdict became a rallying point for opposition leaders, including Delhi and Jharkhand chief ministers Arvind Kejriwal and Hemant Soren, to protest against the order. Similarly the Bharatiya Janata Party has welcomed the order and criticised Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge for questioning the judgement.

What now for Rahul Gandhi?

An elected representative sentenced for any offence for two years or more faces immediate disqualification under the Representation of Peoples Act, 1951.

A provision that granted three months' protection from disqualification was struck down in 2013 as 'ultra vires' by the Supreme Court in the Lily Thomas case. In Gandhi's case, the court that found him guilty suspended its sentence for 30 days - on request - to give him a chance to challenge its decision.

This means the disqualification will kick in a month later, unless Gandhi can get a stay on the conviction (and sentence) from another court.

Rahul Gandhi cannot approach the Gujarat High Court or Supreme Court at this time since this is a criminal case, but a third party could - on grounds the procedure and manner of the Surat court's ruling hurt the larger public interest.

Follow all the updates here:
Mar 23, 2023 11:15 PM IST

Congress calls Oppn meet over Surat court order against Rahul Gandhi

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Thursday has called MPs from all Opposition parties for a meeting over Surat court's verdict against Rahul Gandhi in a defamation case. Read more

Mar 23, 2023 9:47 PM IST

Varanasi court quashes plea seeking FIR against Rahul Gandhi over his UK speech

A local court in Uttar Pradesh's Varanasi on Thursday rejected a plea seeking an FIR against Congress MP Rahul Gandhi over his speech he made at the Cambridge University during his recent visit to the UK. Read more

Mar 23, 2023 9:07 PM IST

Kamal Haasan extends support to Rahul Gandhi

Actor Kamal Haasan has extended support to Congress MP Rahul Gandhi after Surat court gave a two-year term on a defamation case. He said Rahul Gandhi has ‘seen more testing times and unfair moments’ and that he will get his justice. 

Mar 23, 2023 7:58 PM IST

Congress' reaction shows they don't respect country's institutions: Pralhad Joshi

“The reactions of leaders of Congress make it clear that they don't respect the institutions of the country. This is quite evident that they have scant respect for the institutions and they are repeatedly showing it,” said Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi on Surat Court's verdict on Rahul Gandhi. (ANI)

Mar 23, 2023 7:27 PM IST

Raghav Chadha to introduce Bill agianst defamation. What law says

Senior Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader and Rajya Sabha MP Raghav Chadha on Thursday said he will introduce the Decriminalisation of Defamation Bill, 2023, to repeal Sections 499 and 500 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC). Read more

Mar 23, 2023 6:45 PM IST

‘Rahul Gandhi defies, disrespects every democratic institution’: Piyush Goyal

Union minister Piyush Goyal said Congress MP Rahul Gandhi must come to terms with the fact that today ‘PM Narendra Modi is the most loved, admired & the most trusted leader in India and across the world’. He further demanded Congress MP's apology for his ‘irresponsible, defamatory statement’. 

Mar 23, 2023 5:57 PM IST

Rahul Gandhi arrives at his residence

Mar 23, 2023 5:17 PM IST

Rahul Gandhi lands in Delhi, Congress workers raise slogan in his support

Mar 23, 2023 5:04 PM IST

Youth Congress in Kerala carries out protest march against Surat court's verdict

Youth Congress workers carried out a protest march to Rajbhavan against the Surat Court verdict against Rahul Gandhi. (ANI)

Mar 23, 2023 4:59 PM IST

Congress workers gather at Delhi's IGI airport in support of Rahul Gandhi

Congress workers have reached Delhi's IGI airport to receive Rahul Gandhi, who is scheduled to return from Gujarat. They have raised slogans in support of the Congress MP.

Mar 23, 2023 4:57 PM IST

Congress' Karti Chidambaram criticises BJP over verdict against Rahul Gandhi

Congress MP Kart Chidambaram said the Bharatiya Janata Party uses outdated, crude, colonial tools to silence political opponents. “This is a Govt which uses outdated, crude, colonial tools to silence vocal political opponents. This is yet another example of a crude attempt to silence a political opponent. This judgement will be appealed, we know the playbook of the Govt. We are well prepared for it. Party is solidly behind Rahul Gandhi,” he told ANI.

Mar 23, 2023 4:16 PM IST

AAP's Raghav Chadha to introduce Decriminalisation of Defamation Bill, 2023

Senior Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Raghav Chadha said that he will introduce the Decriminalisation of Defamation Bill, 2023 in a bid to repeal the ‘relics of colonial past’. 

Mar 23, 2023 4:02 PM IST

‘Whenever Rahul Gandhi speaks…’: Union minister Kiren Rijiju

Union law and justice minister Kiren Rijiju said whenever Congress MP Rahul Gandhi speaks, it always affects his party and the country. He responded amid political uproar between the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party and opposition parties after a Gujarat court gave a two-year term to the Congress MP for a comment which he made in Karnataka ahead of the 2019 Lok Sabha elections where he wondered how ‘all thieves have Modi as the common surname’.

Mar 23, 2023 3:56 PM IST

Rajnath Singh says Rahul Gandhi must take court's verdict as a lesson

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Thursday said that Congress MP Rahul Gandhi should take the Surat Court judgement as a learning that “words are deadlier than weapons”. Read more

Mar 23, 2023 3:16 PM IST

'Congress wants Rahul Gandhi to utter abuses’: Ravi Shankar Prasad

Senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Ravi Shankar Prasad said if Rahul Gandhi has the right to ‘disrespect’ or ‘abuse’ someone then anybody who is ‘at dismay’ due to it has the right to file a defamation case against him. Read more

Mar 23, 2023 3:06 PM IST

‘Shah and Shahanshah…’: Congress' Pawan Khera criticises BJP over Surat court's verdict against Rahul Gandhi

'Shah and Shahanshah' want an India where a silent opposition is lying in the corner of a room, senior Congress leader Pawan Khera said in response to Surat court's verdict against Rahul Gandhi over his 2019 comment where he wondered how ‘all thieves have Modi surnames’.

Mar 23, 2023 2:58 PM IST

BJP reacts as Kejriwal backs Rahul Gandhi

The Bharatiya Janata Party on Thursday slammed its direct rival in Delhi Aam Aadmi Party after chief minister Arvind Kejriwal came out in support of Congress leader Rahul Gandhi after he was sentenced to two years in jail in a defamation case, alleging that a conspiracy was being hatched to “eliminate” non-BJP leaders and parties by prosecuting them. Read more

Mar 23, 2023 2:37 PM IST

Congress MPs will reach IGI airport to receive Rahul Gandhi today

Amid uproar over Surat court's verdict, Congress MPs will reach the Indira Gandhi International airport to receive Rahul Gandhi today. Further details awaited.

Mar 23, 2023 2:20 PM IST

AAP's Raghav Chadha disagrees with Surat court's verdict against Rahul Gandhi

Senior Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Raghav Chadha said he ‘respectfully disagree’ with Surat court's verdict against Rahul Gandhi over his 2019 speech. 

Mar 23, 2023 2:06 PM IST

WATCH: Congress MP Rahul Gandhi reaches Surat airport

Mar 23, 2023 1:58 PM IST

Maharashtra ruling party's legislators hit a poster of Gandhi with shoes

Hours after senior Congress leader Rahul Gandhi was convicted in a defamation case, the legislators from ruling parties - Eknath Shinde led Shiv Sena and BJP - hit a poster of Gandhi with shoes and chappals in the Vidhan Bhavan premises for insulting Hindutva ideologue Veer Savakar during Maharashtra leg of 'Bharat Jodo Yatra' held last year.

Mar 23, 2023 1:52 PM IST

What Rahul Gandhi had said in 2019?

The case was filed by ex-Gujarat minister Purnesh Modi who claimed Gandhi had defamed the Modi community by his remark.

The Congress leader’s remarks followed an earlier reference to fugitive diamond merchant Nirav Modi; "Nirav Modi, Lalit Modi, Narendra Modi...how come they all have Modi as common surname? How come all the thieves have Modi as the common surname?" Gandhi had asked.

Mar 23, 2023 1:48 PM IST

Priyanka Chaturvedi on Rahul Gandhi's conviction

Mar 23, 2023 1:45 PM IST

Tamil Nadu: Congress workers protest in Chennai against the verdict

Mar 23, 2023 1:44 PM IST

Rahul Gandhi should take a lesson from this: Rajnath Singh

Mar 23, 2023 1:43 PM IST

Opposition parties on Gandhi's defamation case verdict

The court order became a rallying point for the opposition leaders as two non-Congress chief ministers Delhi's Arvind Kejriwal and Jharkhand's Hemant Soren protested against the verdict.

Mar 23, 2023 1:39 PM IST

BJP trying to frighten Rahul Gandhi: Congress

BJP trying to frighten Rahul into silence, say Congress leaders.

Mar 23, 2023 1:37 PM IST

What Rahul Gandhi's lawyer said before the verdict

Rahul Gandhi's lawyer said, “we are not asking for mercy and we are going for an appeal. And whatever it was, it was not intentional. There was no harm to the complainant or to any other person. So the minimum punishment should be given to Rahul Gandhi”, advocate Jignesh said to PTI before the court pronounced the punishment. 

Mar 23, 2023 1:33 PM IST

What now for Rahul Gandhi?

Rahul Gandhi cannot approach the Gujarat High Court or Supreme Court at this time since this is a criminal case, but a third party could - on grounds the procedure and manner of the Surat court's ruling hurt the larger public interest.

Mar 23, 2023 1:30 PM IST

‘Don’t be afraid': Congress

Mar 23, 2023 1:26 PM IST

Rahul Gandhi tore ordinance in 2013 for 3-month protection from disqualification

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s conviction in a criminal defamation case will not immediately disqualify him as a Member of Parliament (MP). The Congress retains the option to go to a higher court, which, the party said, is one its legal team will pursue. Read more

Mar 23, 2023 1:25 PM IST

Jharkhand CM Soren disagrees from court's verdict on Rahul Gandhi

Mar 23, 2023 1:20 PM IST

Can Rahul Gandhi be disqualified as MP?

Any elected representative who is sentenced for any offence for a period of two years or more faces immediate disqualification under the Representation of Peoples Act, 1951. One provision of the Act that granted three months’ protection from disqualification was struck down in 2013 as “ultra vires” by the Supreme Court in the Lily Thomas case.

In Gandhi’s case, however, the Surat court that declared him guilty has itself suspended his sentence for 30 days in order to give him an opportunity to challenge its decision on the request on his legal team. This means that Gandhi’s disqualification will kick in after a month, unless he is able to get a stay on the conviction

Mar 23, 2023 1:19 PM IST

BJP welcomes the court verdict

The BJP which has been up in arms demanding an apology from Rahul Gandhi for his latest remarks in the United Kingdom welcomed the court verdict. Union minister Kiren Rijiju said whatever Rahul Gandhi says proves to be dangerous for the party and the country.

Mar 23, 2023 1:18 PM IST

Supriya Shrinate on verdict

Mar 23, 2023 1:15 PM IST

Manickam Tagore on Rahul Gandhi's conviction

Mar 23, 2023 1:13 PM IST

The tyrant is nervous about this “courage”:  Revanth Reddy

"Rahul Gandhi is raising his voice against dictatorship. He has the courage to say what is wrong is wrong. The tyrant is nervous about this “COURAGE”. We will fight and win", tweeted Revanth Reddy, Telangana Congress chief

Mar 23, 2023 1:07 PM IST

Why Rahul will not lose Lok Sabha membership?

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s conviction in Surat district in a criminal defamation case will not immediately disqualify him as an MP. 

“A sentence suspended means that Gandhi has been found guilty but his punishment will not be applicable immeediately,” said SC lawyer Upamanyu Hazarika. These 30 days will be crucial for Gandhi. If he can get a higher court to stay or set aside the Surat district court’s order, he can continue to be a MP.

Mar 23, 2023 1:03 PM IST

Chhattisgarh CM Baghel on Rahul Gandhi's conviction

There is an attempt to suppress the media, there is an attempt to influence the judiciary & they are taking action against the people of different political parties at this level: Chhattisgarh CM Bhupesh Baghel on Rahul Gandhi being convicted by the Surat District Court

Mar 23, 2023 1:00 PM IST

Congress President on Rahul Gandhi's case verdict

Mar 23, 2023 12:54 PM IST

Priyanka Gandhi on Brother Rahul Gandhi's conviction

Mar 23, 2023 12:53 PM IST

Watch: What Rahul Gandhi said in Surat court

Rahul Gandhi told the court that he has been raising the voices of the people. Whatever he said was not intentional, advocate Jignest told news agency PTI. Read more

Mar 23, 2023 12:51 PM IST

‘Gandhi is not afraid’, tweets Congress

Mar 23, 2023 12:49 PM IST

'We have differences but...': Kejriwal's tweet after Rahul Gandhi found guilty

Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal backed Rahul Gandhi Thursday after the Congress MP was handed a suspended two-year jail term for remarks a Gujarat court ruled found defamatory. Read more

Mar 23, 2023 12:47 PM IST

‘This is new India’: Jairam Ramesh on Rahul Gandhi's defamation case verdict

Mar 23, 2023 12:45 PM IST

‘Once a Liar. Always a Liar’: BJP's Manjinder Sirsa

Mar 23, 2023 12:44 PM IST

Digvijay Singh on Rahul Gandhi's defamation case verdict

Mar 23, 2023 12:42 PM IST

‘I welcome the judgement’: MLA who filed the suit against Gandhi

Mar 23, 2023 12:41 PM IST

Rahul Gandhi retains his Lok Sabha membership

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s conviction in Surat district in a criminal defamation case will not immediately disqualify him as an MP. The Congress also retains the option to go to higher court, which its legal team is going to pursue. As of now, Gandhi retains his Lok Sabha membership as the Surat Court has suspended its sentence for 30 days.

Mar 23, 2023 12:40 PM IST

‘Rahul Gandhi is a courageous man’: Ashok Gehlot

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