Purnesh Modi to file reply to Rahul’s stay appeal in defamation case tomorrow

The next hearing in the case is fixed for April 13.

Following Modi's complaint, the court had, on March 23, convicted Gandhi to two years in prison for insulting the Modi community at an election rally in Karnataka's Kolar in 2019. (PTI Photo)

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BJP MLA Purnesh Modi will be present before the Surat court Tuesday as his counsel is all set to file a reply against Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s appeal to stay his conviction in the defamation case.

“Our consent to the court would be to see the conduct of Rahul Gandhi before and after the conviction. The Congress leaders, including chief ministers and other senior leaders, remained present during the appeal filing date. What does this show? They wanted to create pressure on the judiciary. The Congress leaders had also raised their issues criticising the order. Rahul Gandhi had criticised the nation and democracy on an international platform,” said the Surat West BJP MLA’s lawyer Ketan Reshamwala.

Following Modi’s complaint, the court had, on March 23, convicted Gandhi to two years in prison for insulting the Modi community at an election rally in Karnataka’s Kolar in 2019. The Chief Judicial Magistrate of Surat HH Varma had also granted him bail for 30 days to make an appeal in upper courts.

Also Read | The Modi whose complaint led to Rahul Gandhi’s conviction

On April 3, Rahul, along with his sister and Congress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi, and other senior Congress leaders, in a show of strength, submitted his appeal to stay his conviction before the Surat court.

Granting his bail, Judge PR Mogera asked the complainant as well as the state government to submit their reply against the appeal before the court by April 11. The next hearing in the case is fixed for April 13.

“The court had given an exemption to Rahul Gandhi to appear in the court on April 13. On Tuesday, we will get a copy of their reply based on which we will submit our reply before the court,” said defense lawyer Advocate Kirit Panwala.

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