New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Tuesday agreed to hear Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s appeal challenging the Gujarat High Court’s verdict which dismissed his plea to stay his conviction in a criminal defamation case.
The case dates back to 2019, when Gandhi was campaigning for the Lok Sabha elections in Gujarat. During a rally, he had allegedly said that the people of Gujarat were being “fooled” by the surname “Modi”.
A local court in Surat had convicted Gandhi of criminal defamation and sentenced him to two years in jail. The Gujarat High Court upheld the conviction, but suspended the sentence.
Gandhi then filed an appeal in the Supreme Court, challenging the high court’s verdict. The apex court has now agreed to hear his plea on July 21.
The case has been politically sensitive, with the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) accusing Gandhi of deliberately trying to malign the name of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The Congress party, on the other hand, has accused the BJP of using the law to target its political opponents.
The Supreme Court’s decision to hear Gandhi’s plea is seen as a major development in the case. It will be interesting to see how the apex court rules on the matter.
In his appeal, Gandhi has argued that the high court’s verdict was “wrong” and “erroneous”. He has also said that the conviction will have a “chilling effect” on free speech.
The Supreme Court will have to decide whether Gandhi’s remarks were defamatory and whether the conviction was justified. It will also have to consider the wider implications of the case for freedom of speech.
The hearing on July 21 is likely to be closely watched by political observers and legal experts. The outcome of the case could have a significant impact on the future of free speech in India.