SC stays conviction of Rahul Gandhi

The Supreme Court on Friday stayed Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s conviction in a criminal defamation case on the grounds that the trial judge failed to explain why he deserved the maximum two-year punishment under the law and held that the continuation of his disqualification from Parliament would deprive proper representation to the people of his constituency.

- Utkarsh Anand

The decision paves the way for the revival of Gandhi’s status as an MP after being ineligible for 134 days and means that he could participate in the no-confidence motion debate against the Narendra Modi government’s council of ministers in the Lower House next week.

Addressing a press briefing after the court’s stay, Gandhi said the “truth always triumphs".

“My path is clear. I have clarity in my mind on what I have to do and what my work is. I thank the people who helped us. I also thank the people for their love and support," he said.

Gandhi was elected to the Lok Sabha from Kerala’s Wayanad in 2019. He was convicted on 23 March 2023 by a Surat trial court, which awarded him a maximum two-year jail term in a case relating to his comments on the “Modi" surname at a poll rally. The sentence meant that the Lok Sabha secretariat declared his disqualification on 24 March. Gandhi’s appeal in the Gujarat high court was rejected on 7 July.