Rahul Gandhi Gets 2 Years in Jail for 2019 Defamation Case Over 'Modi Surname' Remarks; Granted Bail

Rahul Gandhi got bail after he was sentenced to two years in jail in a defamation case over remarks on Modi surname. In other news, Amritpal Singh continues to remain at large as pro-Khalistan protests swell in UK and US; All this and more

Rahul Gandhi Gets 2 Years in Jail for 2019 Defamation Case Over 'Modi Surname' Remarks; Granted Bail
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, India

A court in Gujarat’s Surat held Congress leader Rahul Gandhi guilty on Thursday in the 2019 criminal defamation case filed against him over his “Modi surname" remarks. The court has also announced a 2-year jail term as quantum of punishment. Gandhi was present in the court when the verdict was pronounced.

The court of Chief Judicial Magistrate HH Varma, which held Gandhi guilty under Indian Penal Code sections 499 and 500, also granted him bail and suspended the sentence for 30 days to allow him to appeal in a higher court, the Congress leader’s lawyer Babu Mangukiya said.

The case was filed against Gandhi for his alleged “how come all the thieves have Modi as the common surname?” remarks on a complaint lodged by BJP MLA and former Gujarat minister Purnesh Modi.

As a result of this order, Rahul Gandhi might lose his membership as an MP and Wayanad may witness a by-poll.