Rahul Gandhi has been granted bail in his defamation case, with a hearing scheduled for April 13 in Surat

A Surat court granted bail to Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Monday in a defamation case stemming from his 2019 remark about the surname Modi. According to an official, the matter will be heard by the sessions court on April 13.

In Surat Sessions Court on Monday, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi filed an appeal against his conviction and two years in prison in the 2019 criminal defamation case. In what is said to be Congress’ show of strength, he was accompanied by his sister and general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, as well as scores of party leaders.

According to his legal team, the sessions court granted him bail and scheduled a hearing to determine whether or not a stay of execution could be granted on his conviction. According to the lawyers, the court informed Rahul that his presence was not required at the next hearing. Meanwhile, the complainant has been ordered by the court to file his response.
On March 23, a Surat magistrate court found Rahul Gandhi guilty of criminal defamation and sentenced him to two years in prison under sections 499 and 500 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC). In a criminal defamation case, this is the maximum penalty. Rahul was disqualified as a member of parliament for the Wayanad constituency following his conviction.

ये ‘मित्रकाल’ के विरुद्ध, लोकतंत्र को बचाने की लड़ाई है।

इस संघर्ष में, सत्य मेरा अस्त्र है, और सत्य ही मेरा आसरा! pic.twitter.com/SYxC8yfc1M

— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) April 3, 2023

If the court stays the conviction order, his MP status may be revoked.Purnesh Modi, a local BJP MLA, filed the case against former Congress President Rahul Gandhi in Surat for utterances in his public speeches in Karnataka during the Lok Sabha election campaign in 2019. According to reports, Rahul Gandhi said, “How come all the thieves have Modi surnames?”

A large crowd of Congress workers and leaders gathered outside the Surat courthouse to greet Rahul Gandhi. Workers held banners of solidarity and support as they marched from Surat airport, where the Congress leader arrived from Delhi, to Surat Sessions Court.