New Delhi: The Supreme Court today heard the appeal submitted by Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, challenging a Gujarat High Court decision that rejected his request to stay his conviction and two-year jail term in a criminal defamation case. However, without granting any immediate relief to Rahul, the court issued notice to the Gujarat Government, the complainant, and Gujarat BJP MLA Purnesh Modi and scheduled the matter for hearing on the stay of his conviction on August 4.

A Supreme Court bench of justices BR Gavai and PK Mishra heard the petition and issued the notices to the multiple parties.

The appeal was filed on July 15, precisely one week after the high court’s ruling, which dealt a blow to Gandhi’s attempt to reinstate his Lok Sabha membership. The high court stated that the Congress leader had “breached modesty” and committed an offence involving “moral turpitude.”

The complainant in the case, BJP leader Purnesh Modi, has already filed a caveat in the Supreme Court to ensure that no orders are issued in Gandhi’s appeal without hearing his side.

On March 23, a Gujarat magisterial court convicted Gandhi based on his remarks about the ‘Modi’ surname after Purnesh Modi filed a criminal complaint. Consequently, the Congress leader was sentenced to two years’ imprisonment, leading to his disqualification as a Member of Parliament under the Representation of the People Act. DeshGujarat