Gujarat HC refuses to stay Rahul's conviction in Modi surname case

Ahmedabad, NT Bureau: The Gujarat High Court on Friday dismissed Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s plea seeking a stay on his conviction in a criminal defamation case over his “Modi surname” remark.

While dismissing the plea, Justice Hemant Prachchhak noted that Gandhi was already facing 10 criminal cases across India, adding that the order of the lower court was “just, proper and legal” in handing over a two year jail term to Gandhi for his remarks.

There was no reasonable ground to stay the conviction, the high court said. After the verdict, the Cong ress party said it would challenge the high court order in the Supreme Court.

A stay on Gandhi’s conviction in the case would have paved the way for his reinstatement as a Member of Parliament