Modi surname defamation case: Rahul Gandhi refuses to apologise, files rejoinder affidavit in Supreme Court
Asserting that he is not guilty, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi claimed that the conviction is unsustainable and that if he had to apologise and compound the offence, he would have done it much earlier.
Rahul Gandhi refuses to apologise in Modi surname defamation case
Rahul Gandhi, the head of the Congress, declined to apologize in connection with the 'Modi surname' statement defamation case on Wednesday and instead submitted a rejoinder document to the Supreme Court.
Gandhi claimed in his 63-page affidavit that the case does not come under a "exceptional category" that would grant him mercy or a stay of execution.
The former Wayanad MP asserted his innocence and said the conviction was invalid since, if he had to apologize and compound the offense, he would have done so much earlier.
Gandhi's affidavit stated that the complainant, Gujarat BJP MLA Purnesh Ishwarbhai Modi, only used derogatory language like "arrogant" to describe Gandhi because he has failed to accept responsibility.
What affidavit stated?
"This is a flagrant abuse of the legal system, and this Court should not support it," Gandhi's affidavit said, referring to the use of the criminal procedure and the repercussions under the Representation of Peoples Act to force Rahul Gandhi to apologize for no wrongdoing at all.
In response to Purnesh Modi's affidavit in the case, the affidavit went on to say that he had a "exceptional" case because the offense was minor and he would suffer irreversible harm as an elected member of parliament. On the other hand, the complainant is not in any way prejudiced.
Therefore, it is asked that Rahul Gandhi's conviction be overturned so that he can take part in the Lok Sabha's current sessions as well as those that will follow," the statement continued.
Rahul Gandhi sentenced to 2 years in jail
It is worth mentioning that Congress leader Rahul Gandhi was sentenced to two years in prison by a Surat, Gujarat, court in 2019 after he made remarks regarding the "Modi surname" in a criminal defamation case. This was said by him at a rally in Kolar, Karnataka, prior to the 2019 Lok Sabha elections.
Notably, Purnesh Modi, a former minister from Gujarat and BJP MLA, filed a complaint against his remarks. Gandhi's claim that "all the thieves have Modi as the common surname" prompted the filing of a lawsuit. Purnesh Modi, a member of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), filed the lawsuit in accordance with Indian Penal Code sections 499 and 500 (defamation).
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