Rahul Gandhi Modi-surname defamation case: Gujarat HC refuses to stay conviction; calls trial court's judgment ‘proper’
Rahul Gandhi, the Gujarat High Court has declined to grant a stay on his conviction and two-year jail term in a criminal defamation case. This ruling has resulted in the loss of his Parliament membership, representing a major setback for him. The Gujarat High Court has acknowledged the existence of 10 additional criminal defamation complaints against Gandhi.
The court further stated that the order issued by the sessions court did not warrant any interference in the matter. "(Gandhi) is seeking a stay on conviction on absolutely non-existent grounds. Stay on conviction is not a rule.
As many as 10 cases are pending against (Gandhi)," LiveLaw quoted Gujarat HC as saying. "It is needed to have purity in politics. A complaint has been filed against (Gandhi) by the grandson of Veer Savarkar in Pune Court after Gandhi used terms against Veer Savarkar at Cambridge." "Refusal to stay conviction would not in any way result in injustice to the applicant.
There are no reasonable grounds to stay conviction. The conviction is just, proper and legal," it added. A stay on conviction would have pave the way for Gandhi's reinstatement as a Member of Parliament (MP). In May, Justice Prachchhak, while hearing Gandhi's plea, had refused to grant any interim relief saying it will pass a final order after the summer vacation, which ended three weeks back.
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