What’s in a name? Rahul Gandhi learns the hard way in Modi defamation case

In a case of political name-calling that has spiraled into a full-blown legal battle, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MLA Purnesh Modi brands disqualified Congress member of parliament (MP) Rahul Gandhi as “arrogant” in his latest Supreme Court affidavit. This high-drama case traces back to 2019, known as the notorious ‘Modi surname case,’ that led to Rahul Gandhi’s dramatic unseating from the Lok Sabha.

In a scathing affidavit, Purnesh Modi portrays Rahul Gandhi as unapologetic, arguing against any relief for the convicted Congress leader. The document, spanning a whopping 21 pages, offers a peek into the turbulent legal tussle, upholding the Gujarat High Court’s decision and the Session Court’s refusal to suspend Gandhi’s conviction.

Undeniably, the most potent fuel for this fiery legal saga is Rahul Gandhi’s controversial 2019 speech made ahead of the Lok Sabha elections in Kolar, Karnataka. His loaded comment — “How come all thieves be it Nirav Modi, Lalit Modi, or Narendra Modi have a common surname?” — sparked an outrage that would eventually land him in hot legal waters.

Rahul Gandhi’s ‘arrogance’ cited by BJP MLA in high-profile Modi defamation case. Photo courtesy of Sidheeq/Wikimedia Commons.

This defamation case, lodged by the very man whose affidavit now brands Rahul Gandhi as ‘arrogant,’ accuses the Congress leader of slandering the entire Modi community. The subsequent conviction, a two-year sentence along with a hefty fine of Rs 15,000, marked a low point in Rahul Gandhi’s political career.

As the Supreme Court prepares to hear the matter on August 4, one question remains: Will the ‘Gandhi vs Modi’ saga take another unexpected turn? Stay tuned for the latest updates on this riveting case!