Congress MP Rahul Gandhi. PTI.
The Supreme Court of India on Friday issued notice on the petition filed by Congress leader and former Member of Parliament (MP) Rahul Gandhi seeking suspension on the conviction in criminal defamation case and two-year jail term imposed on him by a Gujarat court.
A criminal defamation case was registered against Gandhi for his remark “All thieves have Modi surname”.
The apex court has sought responses from Purnesh Ishwarbhai Modi (a Surat West who had filed the case against Gandhi) and the Gujarat government and posted the matter for hearing on August 4.
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Senior Advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi, appearing for Gandhi and Senior Advocate Mahesh Jethmalani, appearing for the complainant, unanimously expressed their no objection.
During the hearing today, Singhvi requested for an earlier date of hearing stating that Gandhi has lost over hundred days as MP and that bye-elections for Wayanad constituency could be notified soon.
Meanwhile, Jethmalani requested for 10 days time for filing a reply, saying that he wanted to put on record certain propositions of law.
“Issue notice. Waive notice on behalf of respondent number 1. Mr Jethmalani for respondent 1 seeks 10 days time to file written submissions,” a bench of Justices BR Gavai and Prashant Kumar Mishra said.
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