Rahul ‘unapologetic’; 3 pleas filed on quantum, conviction & bail: Lawyer to TNI

Congress’ legal team ruled out the possibility of Gandhi scion apologising as the Surat court granted him bail till April 13

SURAT, GUJARAT | Updated: 03 April, 2023 8:12 pm IST

The Gandhi scion remained defiant on Monday after his legal team filed as many as three applications challenging his sentence, conviction, and extension of bail in the criminal defamation case over his remarks – “Why all thieves have Modi surname” , ruling out possibility of any apology by the blue-blooded politician.

The Surat sessions court on Monday, April 4, gave a respite to Rahul Gandhi by granting him bail till April 13 in a 2019 criminal defamation case.

“The question of seeking pardon arises only if you have done something wrong. It is not proven in court,” BM Mangukiya, counsel for Rahul Gandhi and Congress leader said while speaking exclusively to  The New Indian. 

“In all three applications were filed by Rahul.  Two of the applications were accepted and one is still pending. First is an appeal against the lower court judgement. That appeal has been accepted and the next hearing in the case on May 3. Second is the regular bail plea that has been accepted too. This bail  is till the pendency of the hearing. It will continue till the hearing goes on. Lastly, third is the application seeking stay on conviction. Now, this application is pending and the hearing will take place on April 13. The lower court has issued notices to BJP MLA Purnesh Modi to have his say on the matter on 10th April,” Mangukiya pointed out.

Magukiya continued to defend Rahul’s statement outside the court when asked if his statement had not offended or tainted the entire OBC community.

“Rahul Gandhi referred to three Modis: Narendra Modi, Nirav Modi and Lalit Modi. Out of these three, two are not OBCs. Rahul Gandhi did not refer to anyone in his class that can be an offence under Section 499,” he said.

“For convicting any person, under Section 499, their intents and contexts of making such statements have to be proved, which are not proved. There was therefore no offence committed by Rahul Gandhi and there is no point in seeking any pardon from anybody,” he added.

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