Unfortunate court procedures used for political agendas: Kapil Sibal on Rahul Gandhi's conviction in Modi surname defamation case

The Supreme Court has overturned Congress leader Rahul Gandhi's conviction in a defamation case, Rajya Sabha MP Kapil Sibal on Saturday said he had stated earlier that the conviction was unwarranted and rued that court procedures are used for political agendas.

Gandhi on Friday got a huge relief from the Supreme Court after it stayed his conviction in a 2019 criminal defamation case over his Modi surname remark and paved the way for his reinstatement as a Lok Sabha MP. The stay which will also enable Gandhi, 53, to contest the 2024 Lok Sabha elections was given on the grounds the the trial court in Surat in Gujarat failed to explain why he deserved the maximum two-year punishment upon his conviction that led to his disqualification from the Lower House of Parliament.

In a tweet, Sibal said, Supreme Court stays Rahul's conviction. On the day Rahul was convicted I publicly said the conviction is unwarranted and will not stand. The reason I gave is what the Supreme Court said yesterday. Unfortunate that court procedures are used for political agendas! he said.

Supreme Court
Stays Rahul’s conviction

On the day Rahul was convicted I publicly said the conviction is unwarranted and will not stand

The reason I gave is what the Supreme Court said yesterday

Unfortunate that court procedures are used for political agendas !

— Kapil Sibal (@KapilSibal) August 5, 2023