Rahul Gandhi seeks permanent exemption from appearance in Surat court

For the first time since the matter of defamation had been filed in Surat Civil Court against him in April 2019, Rahul Gandhi appeared in the court on Thursday. The defamation case was filed against the former Congress party chief by a BJP leader over a controversial remark made by him during a speech in a 2019 Lok Sabha election rally on April 13, 2019. In the speech, he had made a shocking comment, saying, 'Nirav Modi, Narendra Modi...why are all thieves named 'Modi'?' 

In the court, the former INC president pleaded 'not guilty' for the defamation case. He also appealed to the court for a permanent exemption from physical appearance in further proceedings of the court in the matter. Hearing his appeal, the court has granted him exemption from physical appearance only till next hearing which the court had set on December 10.

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"We appealed to the court for exemption for Mr Rahul Gandhi. The court gratefully has granted exemption from the next hearing on December 10 and has stated it will consider Mr Gandhi's appeal for a permanent exemption from appearance in due process," said Kirit Panwala, Rahul Gandhi's advocate in the defamation case. 

In the wake of the shocking remarks made by him, BJP MLA Purnesh Modi filed a defamation suit against the Congress leader in Surat civil court. In the complaint, he stated that sentiments of the community have been deeply hurt with remarks made by Rahul Gandhi. Speaking to Republic on Thursday, Purnesh Modi slammed Rahul Gandhi over his statement, adding that he was deeply anguished. 

"I was in deep anguish when I heard of his statement. He was the president of a renowned party. How could he make such irresponsible statements?" Purnesh Modi to Republic TV. 

On October 10, upon his arrival, Rahul Gandhi was given a grand welcome by the Congress leaders all the way from Surat airport to Surat Civil Court.

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Another defamation case

Meanwhile, the Congress leader is slated to appear in another defamation case in the Ahmedabad Civil Court on October 11. On Friday, Rahul Gandhi will appear for in the Ahmedabad court in connection with a criminal defamation case lodged by ADC Bank (Ahmedabad District Cooperative Bank). The case has been filed against Gandhi by the chairman of the bank, Ajay Patel, after the Congress leader accused Home Minister Amit Shah had used the bank for his personal monetary gain during demonetisation. He accused the bank of being involved in a scam to swap demonetised notes worth Rs750 crore during the time of demonetisation in the country.

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