SURAT, GUJARAT: Indian opposition leader Rahul Gandhi will file an appeal on Monday against his conviction and imprisonment in a criminal defamation case.
The Congress leader was sentenced to two years in jail by a court in Gujarat for his 2019 remarks about Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s surname at an election rally.
Gandhi will land in Surat at around 2 pm to file the appeal in court, as per Congress sources.
He will likely be accompanied by senior Congress leaders, including his sister Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, chief ministers of three Congress-ruled states and other national and state party leaders.
A member of detained politician’s legal team told the BBC that Gandhi will ask for a stay on his conviction in the sessions court.
Gandhi’s lawyers said the matter would likely be taken up for hearing by the sessions court itself on Monday.
Gandhi is currently on bail after being given time to appeal the judgement, which was passed on 23 March. A verdict in his favour would reinstate his place in the parliament, while one against his appeal could be challenged by his lawyers in a higher court.
Gandhi to face difficulties in contesting next year’s polls
With national elections due in India next year, Gandhi will not be allowed to contest in the polls until his sentence is suspended or he is acquitted in the case.
Opposition leaders have alleged the governing Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of political vendetta. However, BJP has denied the accusations, saying that due judicial process has been followed in the case.
