Justice SK Dwivedi delivered the judgment while hearing a petition filed by Rahul Gandhi seeking exemption from personal appearance before an MP-MLA court.
The Apex Court has valiantly upheld the sentiments and mandate of the people of Wayanad. This judgment will morally boost INDIA to strengthen our democratic and secular values, TN Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin said in a tweet
"Despite the relentless efforts of the BJPs machinery, Rahul Gandhi has refused to bend, break or bow, choosing instead to place his faith in the judicial process," Cong general secretary Jairam Ramesh tweeted.
"The offence was not against society, not kidnapping, rape, or murder. How can this become an offence involving moral turpitude?" Senior advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi, who appeared for Rahul Gandhi, argued.
Congress general secretary KC Venugopal wrote to all state unit chiefs of the party about the protest after the Gujarat HC dismissed Gandhi's plea seeking a stay on his conviction in a criminal defamation case over his "Modi surname" remark
After final arguments from both sides concluded during the day, the Gujarat HC of Justice Hemant Prachchhak said no interim protection can be granted to the applicant at this stage in the defamation case
Senior Congress leaders, including Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, chief ministers of three Congress-ruled states, other national and state party leaders are likely to accompany him to the court, sources said.
IPL founder and ex-chairman Lalit Modi wrote that the opposition leaders are "either ill-informed or just vendetta prone" and he looks forward to Congress leader Rahul Gandhi "make a complete fool of himself" in court.
Purnesh Modi is basking in the attention as it was his complaint against Gandhi for making derogatory comments during an election rally in the run-up to the 2019 elections in Koral, Karnataka that led to the Congress leader’s conviction
