Indian opposition leader accused of implying prime minister was a criminal in remark made in 2019
A court in India has found the opposition leader Rahul Gandhi guilty of defamation for a remark implying the country’s prime minister,On Thursday, Gandhi, 52, was sentenced to two years in prison but was granted bail after his lawyers announced their intention to appeal.leading face of the Congress partyModi’s government has been widely accused of using the law to target and silence critics, and the case in his home state of Gujarat is one of several lodged against Gandhi in recent years.
“If you are going to insult the entire Modi surname, this is completely defamatory,” Ravi Shankar Prasad, a lawmaker for the ruling Bharatiya Janata party , told reporters. “There was a proper hearing. He got an opportunity to present his side of things. The decision has been taken according to the due judicial process.”
Gandhi was greeted by supporters when he arrived at court for the verdict on Thursday. He faces at least two other defamation cases elsewhere in the country. Apart from granting him bail, the court also suspended the sentence for one month to allow Gandhi to appeal. But according to Indian law, any MP stands instantly and automatically disqualified on receiving a two-year prison sentence. It’s not yet clear how Gandhi and the Congress Party will handle this.
Australia Latest News, Australia Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Indian opposition leader Rahul Gandhi found guilty of defamation, sentenced to two years in prisonThe defamation case was filed by a leader of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party after a 2019 speech in which Mr Gandhi referred to thieves as having the surname of Modi, the same as India's prime minister.
Read more »
Unknown Jackson Pollock painting found in raid, say Bulgarian officialsArtwork reported to be worth up to €50m recovered by police investigating international art smugglers
Read more »
Two adults shot at Denver high school after gun found during student searchOne administrator critically injured and another in stable condition following shooting at East high school on Wednesday morning
Read more »
Five men charged after 52kg of meth found on 'black flight' from PNGFive men are charged after allegedly trying to fly 52kg of methamphetamine from Papua New Guinea to Australia on a plane that couldn't be tracked on radars.
Read more »