New Delhi: In a major setback for Rahul Gandhi, Gujarat High Court on Friday rejected his petition seeking stay on conviction in the defamation case. It may be noted that the lower court had held the Congress leader guilty in defamation case filed over his 'Modi surname' remarks in 2019. Following his coviction in trial court, Rahul had moved Gujarat High Court. With no relief for Rahul Gandhi from the lower court, the Congress leader will continue to stay suspended from the Parliament. Rahul's 'all thieves have Modi surname' remark prompted the defamation case against him by BJP leader Purnesh Modi. LIVE COURT PROCEEDINGS: The Gujarat High Court refused to stay Rahul’s conviction and two-year-jail term awarded to him by Surat’s lower court over ‘Modi surname’ defamation case. In the judgement, Justice Hemant Prachchhak said that no injustice would be caused to Gandhi if the conviction is not stayed. "At least 10 criminal cases pending against him. Even after the present case, some more cases filed against him. One such is filed by grandson of Veer Savarkar. In anyway, conviction would not result in any injustice. The conviction is just and proper. There is no need to interfere with the said order. Therefore, the application is dismissed," Bar & Bench reported, quoting the court order. Prior to this, Surat Sessions court had on April 20 rejected Rahul’s plea, where he sought suspension of his conviction by the Magistrate court. Rahul, now a suspended Lok Sabha MP, was elected from Kerala’s Wayanad on March 23 for his objectionable remarks that all thieves have Modi surname. Rahul made these remarks while addressing a poll rally in Karnataka’s Kolar constituency during 2019 Lok Sabha elections.
