04-07-2023 : The “Modi surname case” involving Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has taken a significant turn with the Jharkhand High Court exempting him from personal appearance in a Ranchi court. The case revolves around a defamation suit filed against Gandhi by a person named Pradeep Modi, who objected to a comment made by the Congress leader during an election rally in April 2019.
In the election rally, Rahul Gandhi allegedly stated, “why all thieves share the Modi surname,” which Pradeep Modi found defamatory and prompted him to file a defamation case against the senior Congress leader. Additionally, Pradeep Modi also filed a separate suit seeking Rs 20 crore in damages from Gandhi for the same remark.
The Ranchi MP-MLA court had previously directed Rahul Gandhi to appear in person in the defamation case. However, Gandhi approached the Jharkhand High Court to challenge this order, seeking exemption from personal appearance.
On Tuesday, the Jharkhand High Court granted Rahul Gandhi’s request and exempted him from appearing in the Ranchi court. Justice S K Dwivedi presided over the case and also ordered that no coercive measures be taken against Gandhi at this stage.
Despite this exemption, the case is not concluded yet, as the matter will be heard again on August 16. The Jharkhand High Court’s ruling offers temporary relief to Rahul Gandhi, allowing him time to present his case and defend against the defamation allegations.
It’s worth noting that this is not the first time Rahul Gandhi faced legal consequences for his “Modi surname” remark. In a separate case earlier, a metropolitan magistrate’s court in Surat convicted Gandhi for the same comment, sentencing him to two years in jail. Consequently, he was disqualified as the Member of Parliament (MP) from Wayanad in Kerala. However, he was released on bail by the Surat court, enabling him to challenge the verdict.
In response to the Surat court’s decision, Gandhi had previously moved the high court seeking to quash the criminal proceedings. Unfortunately, his petition was dismissed on July 5, 2022.
The exemption from personal appearance granted by the Jharkhand High Court offers Rahul Gandhi some breathing space as he prepares to present his defense in the ongoing defamation case. However, the case’s final outcome remains uncertain, and it will be closely watched by both political observers and the public at large.