Congress Leader Rahul Gandhi Receives Respite in ‘Modi Surname Case’ as Supreme Court Stays Defamation Sentence
New Delhi, 4th August 2023: In a significant turn of events, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has been granted a major reprieve in the ‘Modi surname case’ by the Supreme Court. The apex court has stayed the two-year sentence handed to him for defamation, allowing him to rejoin parliamentary proceedings and restore his membership.
Had this punitive measure not been halted, Rahul Gandhi would have faced disqualification as a Member of Parliament, rendering him ineligible to contest elections for the next eight years.
This Supreme Court decision comes as a sigh of relief not only for Rahul Gandhi but also for the entire opposition alliance, consisting of the Congress and other parties.
During the case’s hearing, the Supreme Court bench expressed its curiosity regarding the severity of the imposed punishment. The court questioned the rationale behind awarding the maximum sentence and pointed out that had the judge sentenced Rahul Gandhi to one year and eleven months, disqualification could have been averted.
In response, Purnesh Modi’s lawyer suggested that the stringent sentence might have been a consequence of Rahul Gandhi’s prior instructions coupled with his unaltered behavior. The apex court further deliberated that a sentence shorter by even a single day could have retained Rahul Gandhi’s parliamentary status.
The Supreme Court underscored the broader implications of the matter, emphasizing that it pertains not merely to an individual but to the entire parliamentary constituency. Depriving individuals of their representation raises valid concerns about democratic principles.
Rahul Gandhi’s legal counsel, Abhishek Manu Singhvi, contended during the hearing that the nature of the case did not equate to severe offences like murder, rape, or kidnapping, which warrant substantial penalties.
Singhvi stated, “Rahul Gandhi is not a major criminal. He has faced numerous cases filed by BJP workers, yet he has been acquitted in all of them.” Additionally, this ongoing legal matter has already caused Rahul Gandhi to miss two parliamentary sessions.
