The hearing in the case challenging Rahul Gandhi's conviction in the 2019 defamation case will next be held on May 3 at the Surat District and Sessions Court, which on Monday extended his bail till April 13. After the Surat court's verdict, Rahul Gandhi was disqualified as MP from Lok Sabha.
The former Congress president, sources say, requested for an interim stay on the conviction which would also restore his Lok Sabha membership.
Rahul Gandhi was accompanied by his sister Priyanka Gandhi Vadra. Chief Ministers of three Congress-ruled states - Ashok Gehlot, Bhupesh Baghel and Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu - are also in Gujarat for Mr Gandhi's "moral support".
The BJP called Mr Gandhi's visit to Surat with his sister and some party leaders as "a childish attempt" to pressurise the judiciary.
Here are the Highlights on Rahul Gandhi defamation case:
Rahul Gandhi has reached Surat. The Congress leader is expected to reach the Surat court at 2:45 PM, say sources.
#WATCH | Gujarat: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, accompanied by senior Congress leaders and CMs arrives in Surat. pic.twitter.com/jNbFe1KF8u
- ANI (@ANI) April 3, 2023
The Congress Tripura unit will take out a rally here on April 16 to protest Rahul Gandhi's disqualification from Lok Sabha, said state party president Birajit Sinha. Thousands of Congress workers will gather here on April 16 to participate in the protest rally, he told PTI on Monday.
#WATCH | Delhi: Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra onboard a flight to Surat. pic.twitter.com/akLdGKMqIq
- ANI (@ANI) April 3, 2023
Rahul Gandhi Defamation Case, PM Narendra Modi Surname Case, BJP, Congress: Rahul Gandhi In Court Today To Challenge Conviction, BJP Says ChildishCongress leader Rahul Gandhi will appear in a Gujarat court today to appeal against his conviction and two-year sentencing in a 2019 defamation case.
#WATCH | No one can pressurise judiciary. We are going to Surat. Congress is the main opposition party and Rahul Gandhi is big leader of our party. This is not a political drama. We stand by him...: Himachal Pradesh CM Sukhwinder Singh Sukhu pic.twitter.com/XBeOSncIVx
- ANI (@ANI) April 3, 2023
#WATCH | Surat, Gujarat: Given the presence of Rahul Gandhi in Surat district court the Surat city police have deployed the police force wherever there is a possibility of movement. We will also be starting frisking & checking: Sagar Bagmar, DCP Zone-4 Surat pic.twitter.com/MmQYOLrAbT
- ANI (@ANI) April 3, 2023
#WATCH | Gujarat: Congress party workers gather outside District and Sessions Court in Surat in support of Congress leader Rahul Gandhi who will arrive here today to appeal against his conviction in a defamation case. pic.twitter.com/Um7a8qKQUX
- ANI (@ANI) April 3, 2023
Rahul Gandhi has left for Surat to appeal against his conviction and two-year- sentence in a defamation case. The Congress leader, sources say, will also ask for an interim stay on the conviction which would also restore his Lok Sabha membership.
#WATCH | Rahul Gandhi has said that he will not get afraid. He will not bow down before Amit Shah, Modi. He will go before the judiciary itself. On one hand, you are saying that he should go to court but when he is going you are having a problem with it: Congress MP AR Chowdhury pic.twitter.com/avNAhr7eUE
- ANI (@ANI) April 3, 2023
Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge said that party leaders are going to Surat to lend moral support to the Congress leader. "There is no show of strength in Surat. Our leaders are going there for Rahul's moral support," he told reporters.
Rahul Gandhi, sources say, will also ask for an interim stay on the conviction which would also restore his Lok Sabha membership.
Rahul Gandhi will appear in a Gujarat court today to appeal against his conviction and two-year sentencing in a 2019 defamation case. The Congress leader will appeal to the sessions court in Surat to set aside the Magistrate order convicting him in the defamation case for a remark seen as an insult to Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
