Rahul Gandhi Gets Bail, But No Interim Stay on Conviction; Next Hearing on April 13
A Surat court on Monday granted bail to Congress leader Rahul Gandhi in a criminal defamation case in connection with his remark on ‘Modi surname’. The court suspended Gandhi’s 2-year jail term till the disposal of his appeal. However, the court refused to grant an interim stay on his conviction in the case. His next hearing is scheduled on April 13.
In the first tweet after getting bail, the Congress leader said, “…truth is my weapon, and truth is my support!”
Gandhi’s often repeated ‘Mitrakaal’ dig is aimed at the Centre, alleging that it works to benefit its “crony capitalist friends”.
On Monday, Rahul Gandhi filed an appeal before a sessions court in Gujarat’s Surat city, challenging his conviction in the criminal defamation case.
The former Congress chief was present in the sessions court to file the plea against a metropolitan court’s order sentencing him to two years in jail. Along with the appeal, the Congress leader also filed two applications seeking a stay on his conviction and seeking suspension of his sentence.
On his appeal against conviction, the court said such an order cannot be passed without hearing the other side.
This would mean that Rahul Gandhi’s Lok Sabha membership remains suspended and he will have to vacate the government-allotted house.
Rahul Gandhi’s Show of Force in Surat
Rahul Gandhi was accompanied by his sister Priyanka in Surat. Other Senior Congress leaders, including Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel, Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot, and Himachal Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu are also in Surat with Gandhi. They all reached the Surat district and sessions court on a bus.
