Won’t Apologise: Rahul Gandhi Tells SC In Modi Surname Case

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi presented his defense before the Supreme Court on Wednesday, reiterating that he has always maintained his innocence in the 'Modi surname' remark defamation case. He stated that the conviction against him is unsustainable, and he would have apologized and "compounded the offense" much earlier if he felt guilty.

In his affidavit submitted to the top court, Gandhi accused complainant Purnesh Modi of resorting to slanderous terms like 'arrogant' to describe him solely because he refused to apologize. He asserted that using the criminal process and Representation of Peoples Act to coerce him into apologizing for something he did not do is a gross abuse of the judicial process.

Having been disqualified as the Lok Sabha MP from Wayanad due to his conviction in the case, Gandhi argued that he has an exceptional case since the offense was trivial, and the damage caused to him, as an elected MP, is irreparable.

He further pointed out that the complainant, Purnesh Modi, has not suffered any prejudice at all. In light of these circumstances, Gandhi's affidavit requested that the court stay his conviction, allowing him to participate in the ongoing sittings of the Lok Sabha and subsequent sessions.

The controversy dates back to March 23 when a magisterial court in Gujarat convicted Rahul Gandhi for his remarks on the Modi surname following a complaint by BJP's Purnesh Modi. The conviction led to a two-year imprisonment and his disqualification as a Lok Sabha MP.

Gandhi appealed to the sessions court for a stay on his conviction on April 20, but the plea was rejected. He then approached the high court, which cited his status as an MP and advised Gandhi to exercise more caution in his comments. On July 7, the high court upheld its earlier decision, denying Rahul Gandhi's revision application seeking a stay on his conviction.