Rahul Gandhi was sentenced to two years in jail in a defamation case.

(File)

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MLA from Gujarat Purnesh Modi will file his reply in a sessions court here today in connection with a plea seeking a stay on the conviction of Congress leader Rahul Gandhi in a defamation case.

His lawyer gave this information on Monday.

Purnesh Modi had filed a defamation case against the Congress leader for his 'Modi surname' remark, in which he was found guilty.

The Surat Metropolitan Court on March 23 sentenced Rahul Gandhi to two years in prison after holding him guilty of defamation over his "Why are all thieves surnamed Modi?" remarks. 

Rahul was disqualified from the Lok Sabha membership on 24 March.

He filed an appeal against his conviction in the sessions court on April 3. 

The court of Additional Sessions Judge RP Mogera had on April 3 granted bail to Rahul Gandhi and adjourned till April 13 the hearing on his plea seeking stay of conviction.

Along with Purnesh Modi, the court had also issued a notice to the Gujarat government. 

Purnesh Modi's lawyer Ketan Reshamwala said on Monday, "We will file a reply on Gandhi's plea seeking a stay on the conviction on April 11."

A complaint was filed against Rahul by BJP MLA and former Gujarat minister Purnesh Modi over his remark, "Why are all thieves surnamed Modi?"

Gandhi made this remark while addressing a rally in Kolar, Karnataka on 13 April 2019 during the campaign for the Lok Sabha elections.

Gandhi's sentence was suspended for a month by the trial court pending an appeal against the verdict.

A day after the verdict, Rahul Gandhi was disqualified from the membership of the Lok Sabha. 

According to the Representation of the People Act, 1951, a jail term of two years disqualifies an MP or MLA from his/her membership of Parliament or Legislative Assembly from the date of conviction. 

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