No coercive action against Rahul Gandhi directs Jharkhand HC: Modi surname case

Jharkhand HC directed no coercive action against Congress leader Rahul Gandhi in the PM Modi surname case and adjourned the next hearing to August 16

Rahul Gandhi has been granted relief by the Jharkhand High Court. The court has issued interim orders to prevent any actions, such as issuing a warrant, against Rahul Gandhi until further notice The case stems from comments made by Rahul Gandhi in 2018 regarding Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s last name and inappropriate remarks about the BJP president. BJP activists filed petitions against Rahul Gandhi, prompting the Jharkhand High Court to take up the matter.

In response, the court has temporarily prohibited any action against Rahul Gandhi and adjourned the next hearing to August 16. During a speech in Ranchi, Rahul Gandhi remarked, “In this country, it is possible for a murderer to become the president of a party only in BJP. Such a thing is impossible in Congress.” These comments led to multiple cases being filed against him in various Jharkhand courts, including the Ranchi Civil Court, which issued a warrant. A defamation case is filed against him for making derogatory remarks about the Modi surname. During his campaign for the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, Rahul Gandhi allegedly stated, “Nirav Modi, Lalit Modi, Narendra Modi… how come they all have Modi as the common surname. How come all the thieves have Modi as the common surname?” Rahul Gandhi has faced legal repercussions in a separate case in Gujarat. The Surat court had sentenced him to two years in jail for making inappropriate comments about Prime Minister Modi’s surname. Rahul Gandhi appealed this verdict in the high court. However, based on the Surat court’s judgment, the government declared him ineligible for Lok Sabha membership under the Representation of the People Act.

Gandhi also faced legal repercussions in a separate case in Gujarat, where he was sentenced to two years in jail for making inappropriate comments about Modi’s surname. Gandhi appealed this verdict in the high court.

The Jharkhand High Court’s decision is likely to be welcomed by the Congress, but it remains to be seen how the case will ultimately be resolved. The Jharkhand High Court has temporarily blocked any action against Rahul Gandhi in the case related to his comments about PM Modi’s surname.