The Gujarat High Court rejected Rahul Gandhi’s plea for a stay on his conviction in a criminal defamation case. He had made remarks about the Modi surname, claiming it was synonymous with corruption.
A local businessman, Suresh Mehta, filed the defamation case against Gandhi during the 2013 Gujarat assembly elections. The trial court convicted Gandhi in 2016, sentencing him to one year in jail but suspending the sentence for two years.
Gandhi appealed to the Gujarat High Court, which upheld the conviction but imposed a fine of Rs 25,000 instead of imprisonment.
In its recent order, the high court upheld the conviction but waived imprisonment if Gandhi paid a fine of Rs 25,000. This decision is a setback for Gandhi, the leader of the Congress party, and raises concerns about his eligibility for parliamentary membership.
Under Indian law, individuals convicted of crimes involving moral turpitude are disqualified from holding elected office. Gandhi’s lawyers plan to appeal the high court’s decision to the Supreme Court.
The case has garnered significant attention from political observers in India, as it tests the country’s legal system and its ability to hold influential politicians accountable.
