Rahul Gandhi Seeks Supreme Court Against Gujarat HC Order

Rahul Gandhi reportedly challenged the Gujarat High Court’s order in the Supreme Court on Saturday by e-filing an appeal, as per media reports.

The appeal was against the High Court order that refused a stay on the Surat Trial Court’s sentencing judgment against Gandhi.

The appeal read the petitioner will lose eight years of his career if relief is not granted.

Since the 2023 assembly elections are at the forefront, the Court’s decision in this matter is significant as under ‘Section 8(3)’ of the Representation of the People Act, any person convicted and sentenced to two years for any offence stands disqualified to contest elections for the jail term and the next six years after serving the sentence.

Gandhi was convicted by the Gujarat Court on criminal defamation charges for his comment on the surname ‘Modi’. He was even disqualified as a Member of Parliament on 24 March 2023 for his remark.

Reports mentioned that according to the Congress leader, the offence registered against him at the behest of Purnesh Modi is not serious in nature neither does it fall in the moral turpitude category to warrant a severe punishment.

Additionally, he said the allegedly offending words were spoken in a political speech addressing a political opponent and not with regards to defaming any class or community.

He stressed that with regard to the offence, no evidence has been produced in terms of the Evidence Act or the Information Technology Act that were produced to justify the proceedings.

Gandhi sought to discredit the complainant claiming the defamation of people with the Modi surname in his speech.