'Truth Prevails,' verdict in favour of Rahul Gandhi; Congress celebrate at AICC headquarters

NEW DELHI: Congress celebrated as the Supreme Court stayed the trial court's verdict of imposing the maximum punishment on Congress leader Rahul Gandhi in the defamation case. The celebration continued at the AICC headquarters with flag hoisting and slogan shouting. Congress members stated that truth had prevailed and what they hadn't achieved in the Gujarat court had achieved in the Supreme Court.

Members expressed their joy by offering sweets to lawyer Manu Abhishek Singhvi outside the Supreme Court. Simultaneously, the Congress also organized celebratory demonstrations through social media. The official Twitter account of the Congress posted, ‘Love conquers hate, Satyameva Jayate - Jai Hind.’

यह नफरत के खिलाफ मोहब्बत की जीत है।

सत्यमेव जयते - जय हिंद 🇮🇳 pic.twitter.com/wSTVU8Bymn

— Congress (@INCIndia) August 4, 2023

The court directed the trial court to provide an explanation for imposing the maximum punishment on Rahul under the defamation law. The hearing in the case lasted for over one and a half hours. Advocate Manu Abhishek Singhvi, representing Rahul Gandhi argued that Rahul had not insulted the Modi community. He highlighted that the complainant was a member of the BJP and was exercising dissent in a democratic setup.

Advocate Mahesh Jatlani represented the complainant and argued that Rahul had intentionally made the statement. Rahul was sentenced to two years in prison by Surat's Chief Judicial Magistrate Court in the defamation case. This penalty represents the maximum punishment under the defamation section. Subsequently, he appealed to the Supreme Court.