Gujarat Court Summons Rahul Gandhi Over His Modi Surname Remark

The complaint against Rahul Gandhi was filed by BJP legislator from Surat-West, Purnesh Modi.

Rahul Gandhi had said, “How come all thieves have Modi as common surname.”

(Photo: Altered by The Quint)

A court in Surat Thursday, 2 May, issued summons to Rahul Gandhi in response to a criminal defamation suit filed by a Gujarat MLA over the Congress president's "how come all thieves have Modi as common surname" remark.

Earlier on Wednesday, 1 May, Ahmedabad Metropolitan Court issued summons to Rahul Gandhi after a criminal defamation case was filed by a BJP worker, alleging that Gandhi called BJP president Amit Shah “a murder accused.”

Chief Judicial Magistrate of Surat, B H Kapadia, issued summons to Gandhi, directing him to be present before the court on 7 June. The complaint against Gandhi was filed by BJP legislator Purnesh Modi, on 16 April under IPC sections 499 and 500 that deal with defamation.

Gandhi Remarked on Modi’s Surname in a K’taka Rally

In his complaint, the MLA from Surat-West seat claimed the Congress president was defaming the entire Modi community by saying all "Modis are thieves."

“There are a large number of people with Modi surname. Does it mean all members of the Modi community are thieves? He has defamed the community and also me as I carry the surname. This is why we have moved a complaint (against Gandhi) in a Surat court under IPC sections 499 and 500,”

Purnesh Modi, Plaintiff and MLA from Surat-West

He was referring to an election rally at Kolar in Karnataka on 13 April, where Gandhi asked, "Nirav Modi, Lalit Modi, Narendra Modi...how come they all have Modi as common surname. How come all the thieves have Modi as the common surname?"

While talking to reporters after filing his defamation suit last month, Purnesh Modi had claimed that Gandhi's remark has defamed the entire Modi community.