Rahul Gandhi’s plea for an interim stay on his conviction in the criminal defamation case against him for his Modi surname remark has been dismissed by the Surat Sessions Court.
This means that Gandhi continues to be disqualified as a Member of Parliament from the Lok Sabha.
The order was pronounced by Additional Sessions Judge Robin Mogera, who rejected Gandhi’s application filed for relief pending his appeal against a lower court’s order sentencing him to two years in jail in the case.
Gandhi had approached the sessions court on April 3 for an appeal against the lower court’s order. His lawyers had filed two applications, one for a stay on the sentence (or bail till the disposal of his appeal) and another for stay on conviction till the disposal of his appeal.
The court will continue its hearing on Gandhi’s main plea against the lower court’s order.