Verdict To Be Given In Defamation Case Against Rahul Gandhi

BJP leader filed a defamation case&

Surat: On Thursday, 23 March 2023, a court in Gujarat’s Surat will deliver its verdict in a 2019 criminal defamation case that was filed against Congress leader Rahul Gandhi over his "Modi surname" remarks, party leaders said.

The case was filed against Rahul Gandhi for his alleged remark “Why do all thieves have Modi as the common surname?” in a complaint filed by BJP MLA and former Gujarat minister Purnesh Modi.

The Lok Sabha MP from Wayanad made the alleged remarks while addressing a rally at Kolar in Karnataka ahead of the 2019 Lok Sabha elections.

The court of Chief Judicial Magistrate HH Varma had last week concluded hearing final arguments from both sides and set March 23 to announce its judgment in the four-year-old defamation case, Mr. Gandhi's lawyer Kirit Panwala had said.

Mr. Gandhi last appeared in October 2021 before the Surat court in the case, filed under Indian Penal Code (IPC) sections 499 and 500 (dealing with defamation), to record his statement.