Supreme Court Agrees To List Rahul Gandhi’s Plea Seeking Stay On Conviction In 'Modi Surname' Case On 21 July

On Tuesday, (18 July), the Supreme Court agreed to list the petition filed by former Congress President Rahul Gandhi seeking stay of conviction in criminal defamation case over Modi-thieves remark on 21 July. 

Senior Advocate, Abhishek Manu Singhvi mentioned Gandhi’s petition petition before the CJI for urgent listing, to which CJI agreed and listed the matter for Friday (21 July). 

Gandhi has filed the said Special Leave Petition challenging the Gujarat High Court refusal to stay his conviction. Gandhi was disqualified from Lok Sabha subsequent to his conviction, if the conviction is stayed, then Gandhi would be allowed contest election. 

During 2019 Lok Sabha campaign Gandhi while referring to the Modi community made a statement and asked, ‘why do all thieves have Modi surname?’.

BJP MLA Purnesh Modi had filed the criminal defamation against Gandhi alleging that his comment defamed the entire Modi community. While Gandhi argued that there was no mala fide intention on his part while making the statement. 

Previously, on 23 March, 2023 the Surat Court had convicted Gandhi and sentenced him to two-year imprisonment, following which he was disqualified as a member of the Lok Sabha.