The Supreme Court on Friday issued notice on a petition filed by Congress leader Rahul Gandhi seeking suspension of his conviction in a criminal defamation case over the ‘Modi thieves’ remark, LiveLaw reported.
Gandhi was disqualification from the Lok Sabha after he was convicted by a Gujarat court for defaming everyone with a ‘Modi’ surname. Bharatiya Janata Party MLA and former Gujarat minister Purnesh Modi filed a complaint under Sections 499 and 500 of the Indian Penal Code, 1860 over his remark “Why all thieves share the Modi surname” in 2019.
The former Member of Parliament from Wayanad moved to Apex Court challenging the Gujarat High Court’s refusal to stay his conviction.
A bench of Justices BR Gavai and Prashant Kumar Mishra was hearing Gandhi’s plea. Justice Gavai said that his father was associated with Congress and his brother is still associated with the party and asked if there was any objection to him hearing the matter.
Senior Advocate Dr Abhishek Manu Singhvi, appearing for Gandhi, and Senior Advocate Mahesh Jethmalani, appearing for the complainant, unanimously expressed that they had no objection.
The matter will be heard on August 04.
