Ranchi, December 7
Modi surname case: Congress MP and Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi today on a petition seeking personal immunity from appearing in court in a defamation case regarding his previous comment on ‘Modi Surname’ There will be a hearing. Summons were issued by the MP/Legislative Special Court in Ranchi for the personal appearance of the Congress MP, following which a petition was filed by his lawyers.
The case relates to a comment made by a senior Congress leader during an election rally in April 2019, where Rahul Gandhi allegedly remarked, “Why do all thieves have the surname Modi?” The comment caused an outcry and Ranchi resident Pradeep Modi later filed a defamation case along with a separate civil suit seeking damages of Rs 20 crore. Rahul Gandhi’s legal team filed a petition under Section 205 of the CrPC on August 14 seeking exemption from appearing in court, following which summonses were issued to him to appear.
The Jharkhand High Court had in August granted interim relief to the Lok Sabha LOP exempting it from personal appearance in the case. Justice S.K. Dwivedi ruled in Rahul Gandhi’s favor while hearing a petition challenging earlier orders of Parliament/Legislative Special Court. The High Court, after hearing arguments from both sides, directed that no coercive action be taken against Gandhi and sought a response from the complainant, Pradeep Modi. IANS