SC declines ‘interim suspension’ of Rahul Gandhi’s conviction, issues notice to Gujarat government
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New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Friday declined the plea for an “interim suspension” of conviction of Rahul Gandhi in defamation case as he challenged the High Court order in the apex court.
A bench of Justices B R Gavai and P K Mishra, however, issued a notice against Gujarat government and put the next hearing of the case on August 4, The Indian Express reported.
Justice Gavai told both the parties involved in the case that he had some difficulty as his father was associated with the congress as a lawmaker, nevertheless he was not a member.
When the justice said it was them to decide on his taking up the matter, Senior Advocate Mahesh Jethmalani for complainant Purnesh Modi made it clear that his client had no objection.
Rahul Gandhi’s advocate A M Singhvi argued that Gandhi had lost one Parliament session and is losing the next alongside the elections to the Wayanad constituency can be notified any time. The court replied that it is willing to take the case at the shortest possible time.
When Justice Gavai pointed out that question was whether ‘the conviction deserves to be suspended or not’, Singhvi sought an interim suspension or shortest possible date, which the bench declined.
A magisterial court in Surat found Rahul Gandhi guilty and sentenced him to two years in prison.
The case came up after BJP’s Surat West MLA Purnesh Modi filed a defamation case over Rahul’s remarks about 'Modi' surname.
The conviction led to his disqualification from Lok Sabha, hence he lost Wayanad constituency in Kerala.
The Gujarat High Court on July 7 refused to stay the conviction stating the offence committed falls in the ‘category of moral turpitude’.