Major setback for Rahul Gandhi! The Gujarat High Court has dismissed his review petition and refused to stay his conviction in the 2019 Modi surname case.

If the conviction were stayed, Rahul Gandhi could have been reinstated in the Lok Sabha. The court noted that there are several other criminal defamation complaints pending against him.

Justice Hemant Prachchak delivered the verdict, stating that a stay on conviction is an exception, not a rule. The BJP welcomed the decision, with spokesperson Shezzad Poonawalla highlighting Rahul Gandhi's serial offending.

With no immediate relief, Rahul Gandhi has the option to approach the Supreme Court against the high court's order.

The defamation case stemmed from Rahul Gandhi's comment during the 2019 Lok Sabha campaign, where he questioned the common "Modi" surname among thieves.

The conviction resulted in him losing his parliamentary membership.

Source: HindustanTimes