Indian opposition leader Rahul Gandhi is set to appeal on Monday against his conviction and jail term in a criminal defamation case.
He was sentenced to two years in prison by a court in the state of Gujarat in 2019 for commenting on Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s surname at an election rally.
The Congress leader was later disqualified as a legislator as well.
Opposition leaders have accused the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of political vendetta.
The BJP denied this, saying that due process of law was followed in the case.
India is due to hold national elections next year, and Mr Gandhi will not be allowed to run unless his sentence is suspended or he is acquitted in the case.
Mr Gandhi will appear in a Surat city court on Monday afternoon along with his sister Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and other senior Congress leaders. Scores of Congress workers gathered outside the court in support of Mr Gandhi and held up banners reading “Save Democracy”. A senior police official told ANI news agency that a large number of police personnel have been deployed in Surat.
A member of Mr Gandhi’s legal team told JEE News the politician would seek a stay on his sentence in the Sessions Court. A ruling in his favor would restore his seat in parliament, while an appeal against him could be challenged by his lawyers in the High Court.
Mr Gandhi is currently out on bail after being given time to appeal the verdict handed down on March 23.
The defamation case against him, brought by BJP lawmaker Parneesh Modi, revolves around comments Mr Gandhi made during an election rally in Karnataka state: “Why are all these thieves surnamed Modi?” Is? Nirav Modi, Lalit Modi, Narendra Modi,” he. said.
Nirav Modi is a fugitive Indian diamond tycoon while Lalit Modi is the former head of the Indian Premier League who has been banned for life by the country’s cricket board.
Purneesh Modi, in his complaint, had alleged that the entire Modi community was defamed by these comments. However, Mr. Gandhi said that he made the comment to highlight corruption and was not against any community.
A day after his conviction, the Congressman lost his seat in Parliament over a Supreme Court order that says a lawmaker convicted of a crime and sentenced to two or more years is disqualified with immediate effect.
Last week, members of the Congress party staged protests in several states. Leaders of several other opposition parties also joined the protest.
Senior Congress leader Jairam Ramesh alleged at a press conference that Mr Gandhi was being targeted by the ruling BJP over his comments about “Mr Modi’s relationship with Adani”. .
In a speech in Parliament on February 7, Mr Gandhi linked the rising fortunes of businessman Gautam Adani to his closeness to Mr Modi’s government.
The Congress and other opposition parties have also been demanding a committee of experts to investigate allegations of financial fraud against the Adani Group.
In February, US-based investment firm Hindenburg Research published a report accusing the Adani Group of decades of stock manipulation and accounting fraud. The group has denied the allegations.
“Mr Gandhi has been the Prime Minister’s fiercest and most consistent critic,” Mr Ramesh said on Friday.
BJP leaders have said the party is not defending Mr Adani and accused Mr Gandhi of lying.
