The Supreme Court issued notice to the Gujarat government in response to Rahul Gandhi's appeal against the Gujarat High Court's order, which refused to stay his conviction and two-year jail term in a criminal defamation case. The case is scheduled for a hearing on August 4. During the hearing, Justice Gavai offered to recuse himself from the case due to his family's association with the Congress party. However, both parties agreed to let him continue hearing the matter.
Rahul Gandhi's Defamation Case: Free Speech Concerns and MP Disqualification
The criminal defamation case was filed by Purnesh Modi, a former minister in the Gujarat government, in 2019 after Rahul Gandhi made remarks about the surname "Modi" during an election rally in Karnataka. Rahul Gandhi expressed concerns that the High Court's judgment could curb free speech and expression. The Supreme Court's limited question is whether the conviction should be suspended. The case also led to Gandhi's disqualification as a Member of Parliament (MP) under the Representation of People Act. The next hearing is scheduled for August 4.