Daijiworld Media Network - Surat (SHP)
Surat, Oct 10: Former Congress president, Rahul Gandhi appeared before the Surat court to plead 'not guilty' in relation to a defamation case against him. In the past, during a rally ahead of Lok Sabha polls in Karnataka, Rahul was accused of saying,"All thieves have Modi as a common surname."
Rahul also applied to get a permanent exemption from future court proceedings in this case. The court has set December 10 as the date for a response in the matter.
Further, Rahul shared about this on his official Twitter handle saying, "I am in Surat today to appear in a defamation case filed against me by my political opponents, desperate to silence me. I am grateful for the love & support of the Congress workers who have gathered here to express their solidarity with me, #SatyamevJayate."
The summon had been issued to Rahul in May after a complaint was filed by a local BJP leader under sections of the Indian Penal Code that dealt with criminal defamation.
"Nirav Modi, Lalit Modi, Narendra Modi, how come they all have Modi as a common surname? How come all thieves have Modi as a common surname?" Rahul had asked the crowd at a rally in Karnataka's Kolar district.
After the accusation and a possible defamation case, Congress came in Rahul's support. The party claimed his remarks had been directed at corrupted businessmen such as Lalit Modi and Nirav Modi and that Rahul highlighted the failure of Prime Minister Narendra Modi of making them pay for their wrongdoings.
Congress party on their official Twitter handle uploaded a tweet in his favour which read, "Shri @RahulGandhi arrives at the District & Sessions court in Surat to appear in a defamation case filed by the BJP.
Such transparent attempts to silence the truth will never work, the fight against lies & hatred will always be strengthened by sincerity & love. #SatyamevJayate."
Rahul is entwined in another defamation where he slammed Amit Shah and his son. An outcome of which, triggered a BJP leader to file a complaint against him.
In this manner, the former Congress president is looking at a long list of defamation cases against him, including one filed in an Ahmedabad court by Ajay Patel, the Chairman of the Ahmedabad District Cooperative Bank after he accused Patel of being involved in a scam to swap demonetised notes worth Rs 750 crore.