SC Stays rahul's Conviction, restores MP Status

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In a breather to senior Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, the Supreme court on Friday stayed his conviction in a defamation case over his 'Modi' surname remark. BJP MLA Purnesh Modi had filed a defamation case against Rahul Gandhi. The bench of justices comprising PK Misra and BR Gavai stated that there was no specific reason granted by the trial judge to impose maximum sentence on the Congress leader even though the utterances were not in good taste."There is no doubt that utterances are not in good taste, person in public life is expected to exercise caution while making public speeches. No specific reason has been granted by trial judge to impose maximum sentence apart from a comment by this court. Had the sentence been even a day lesser, the provisions (pertaining to disqualification) would not have applied," Justice BR Gavai said. The court then ruled, "Taking into consideration these and that no reason has been given by trial judge for imposing max sentence, order of conviction needs to be stayed pending final adjudication." Congress leader Rahul Gandhi told the Supreme Court that the original surname of former Gujarat minister Purnesh Modi, who filed a defamation case against him, is not Modi and he belongs to the Modh Vanika Samaj.

Senior advocate Abhishek Singhvi, appearing for Gandhi, told a threejudge bench of Justices B R Gavai, P S Narasimha and Sanjay Kumar that his client is not a hardened criminal and there is no conviction in any case despite several cases filed against him by BJP workers. The top court is hearing a plea by Gandhi challenging the Gujarat High Court verdict which dismissed his plea seeking a stay on his conviction in a defamation case over his "Modi surname" remark. The Supreme Court also restored Rahul Gandhi's status as Lok Sabha MP.

BJP's conspiratorial hounding of Rahul Gandhi exposed: Kharge

Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge on Friday welcomed the Supreme Court judgement staying the conviction of Rahul Gandhi in ‘Modi surname’ remarks defamation case, saying truth alone triumphs and BJP’s conspiratorial hounding of the former party chief has been thoroughly exposed. He also said that it is high time the BJP respect the mandate given by the people and start governing the country, on which they have "miserably failed" in the last 10 years.In a tweet, Kharge said: “Truth Alone Triumphs. We welcome the verdict by the Supreme Court giving relief to Rahul Gandhi. Justice has been delivered. Democracy has won. The Constitution has been upheld. BJP’s conspiratorial hounding of (Rahul) Gandhi has been thoroughly exposed."Time for them to stop their malicious targeting of Opposition leaders. It is high time they respect the mandate given by the people and start governing the country.

Satyameva Jayate, SayS Priyanka Gandhi on SC Stay

ThE SUPrEME COUrT ON FrIDAy STAyED rAhUl GANDhI'S CONVICTION IN DEFAMATION CASE IN MODU SUrNAME CASE. ThE VErDICT AlSO rESTOrED ThE SENIOr lEADEr'S STATUS AS lOk SAbhA MP. C ONG r ESS l EADE r S hAIlED ThE SUPrEME COUrT'S INTErIM OrDEr AS 'VICTOry OF TrUTh'. ChECk OUT rEACTIONS OF CONGrESS lEADErS.