Last updated on April 7th, 2023 at 03:39 pm
Congress leader, Rahul Gandhi, has been stripped of his membership in the Lok Sabha, starting from the day he was found guilty of criminal defamation in a case related to his “Modi surname” remarks on March 23. According to a notice issued by the national parliament, Gandhi has been disqualified as a member of the Lok Sabha.
- Rahul Gandhi has been disqualified as a member of the Lok Sabha from the date of his conviction in the criminal defamation case on March 23.
- He was convicted in a criminal defamation case for his “Modi surname” remarks and sentenced to two years of imprisonment.
- The court granted him bail and suspended the sentence for 30 days to allow him to appeal in a higher court.
- The complaint was filed by BJP MLA Purnesh Modi for his alleged remark, “How come all thieves have Modi as the common surname?”
- The Congress has described the judgment as politically motivated and blamed the government and the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
- The court of chief judicial magistrate HH Varma held 52-year-old Gandhi guilty under Indian Penal Code (IPC) sections 499 and 500.
- Gandhi can escape immediate disqualification as a member of parliament if the appellate court suspends the conviction as well as the two-year jail term.
- The Wayanad MP attended Lok Sabha on Friday briefly as the House was adjourned for an hour soon after it convened for the day.
The Wayanad MP was convicted on Thursday in a criminal defamation case, and the court sentenced him to two years of imprisonment. However, the court granted him bail and suspended the sentence for 30 days, allowing him to appeal in a higher court. The criminal defamation case was filed against him by BJP MLA Purnesh Modi after Gandhi allegedly made a remark that read, "How come all thieves have Modi as the common surname?".Although Gandhi briefly attended the Lok Sabha session on Friday, the House was adjourned for an hour soon after it convened for the day. The Congress has blamed the government and the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and described the verdict as politically motivated.
The court of Chief Judicial Magistrate HH Varma held Gandhi guilty under Indian Penal Code (IPC) sections 499 and 500, and also granted him bail while suspending the sentence for 30 days to allow him to appeal in a higher court. In addition, the court gave him multiple chances to apologize, which Gandhi refused.
Gandhi can avoid immediate disqualification from parliament if the appellate court suspends the conviction and the two-year jail term.
