Rahul Gandhi vacating house after being disqualified as MP

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has started the process of vacating his house in Lutyens' Delhi after being disqualified as Lok Sabha MP.

In the videos shared by news agency ANI, trucks from Congress leader Rahul Gandhi's 12 Tughlak Lane bungalow are seen leaving for his mother and UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi's residence at 10 Janpath.

The notice to Gandhi to vacate the bungalow was served by the Housing Committee of the Lok Sabha last month after a local court in Gujarat had convicted Gandhi in a criminal defamation case on March 23 and sentenced him to two years in jail. The two-year jail term triggered his automatic disqualification as Lok Sabha member.

According to a senior official, a disqualified Lok Sabha member has to vacate the official bungalow within one month of losing his membership. He was reportedly given April 22 as the deadline to vacate the house.

Another official said that Gandhi can write to the Housing Committee seeking an extended stay, a request that can be considered by the panel.

The notification issued by the Lok Sabha Secretariat was marked to various departments, including the Directorate of Estates, New Delhi Municipal Council, and all the benefits available to Gandhi as a member of Parliament too are under review.

Surat Court will pass order on an interim application filed by Congress leader Rahul Gandhi seeking a stay on his conviction in a 2019 defamation case on 'Modi surname' remark on April 20.

Surat Sessions Court on April 3 granted bail to the Congress leader, who had filed an appeal following his conviction in the criminal defamation case.