On July 21, the Supreme Court commenced the hearing of the criminal defamation case involving Rahul Gandhi, the prominent political figure. The bench, headed by Justice BR Gawai, issued notices to the complainant, Purnesh Modi, and the Government of Gujarat, marking the beginning of the legal proceedings.
During the initial hearing, Justice Gawai disclosed his potential conflict of interest, stating that his father had close ties to the Congress party, and his brother remained a member of the Congress. He asked both parties to decide whether they were comfortable with him presiding over the case. Both sides agreed to have Justice Gawai oversee the matter, and the hearing proceeded.
Lawyer Mahesh Jethmalani, representing Purnesh Modi, expressed no objections to Justice Gawai’s involvement. Rahul Gandhi’s lawyer, Abhishek Manu Singhavi, also concurred with the decision. Following this, the bench formally served notices to Purnesh Modi and the Government of Gujarat.
During the hearing, Purnesh Modi’s attorney requested permission to file a reply, and the bench agreed. Jethmalani informed the court that the reply would be filed within 10 days. As the proceedings advanced, the next hearing date was scheduled for August 4.
The case stems from an election rally in 2019 when Rahul Gandhi addressed the public in Kolar, Karnataka. During the speech, he made remarks questioning, “Why do all thieves have the surname Modi?” Subsequently, BJP leader and former minister in the Gujarat government, Purnesh Modi, filed a criminal defamation suit against Rahul Gandhi for these statements.
In March 2023, a court in Surat convicted Rahul Gandhi, sentencing him to two years in prison. In response, Rahul Gandhi appealed the verdict in the Gujarat High Court but received no relief as the petition was rejected on July 7. He then appealed his conviction and petitioned the Supreme Court for justice in order to seek redress.
The nation anticipates additional developments in this high-profile defamation case that has captivated the attention of the nation’s political scene with the next hearing set for August 4.
