Hearing Today on Rahul Gandhi's Request for Exemption in Modi Surname Defamation Case
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Ranchi, Dec 7 (NationPress) The legal petition put forth by Congress MP and Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition, Rahul Gandhi, requesting exemption from personal court appearances in the defamation case linked to his previous statements about the 'Modi surname', will be reviewed today.
Summons for the Congress MP's attendance were issued by the MP/MLA Special Court in Ranchi, leading to the filing of this petition by his legal representatives.
This case relates to a statement made by the senior Congress figure during an election rally in April 2019, where Rahul Gandhi purportedly stated, 'Why do all thieves share the Modi surname?'
The comment ignited significant backlash, prompting Pradeep Modi, a resident of Ranchi, to file a defamation suit, along with a separate civil case seeking Rs 20 crore in damages.
In an effort to secure exemption from court attendance, Rahul Gandhi's legal team submitted a petition under Section 205 of the CrPC on August 14, after which summons for his appearance were generated.
Previously, the Jharkhand High Court granted temporary relief to the Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition in August, allowing him to avoid personal appearances in this matter.
Justice S.K. Dwivedi ruled in favor of Rahul Gandhi while evaluating the petition contesting the earlier order from the MP/MLA Special Court, which had rejected his request for exemption.
After hearing from both parties, the High Court instructed that no coercive measures be taken against Gandhi and requested a response from the complainant, Pradeep Modi. Advocates Piyush, Chitresh, and Dipankar Roy represented Gandhi in these proceedings.
The controversy originates from remarks made during the 2019 election campaign, which led to a series of legal challenges against the Congress MP, including this defamation case initiated in Ranchi.
