Modi surname case: Rahul Gandhi seeks 15 days' time from MP/MLA court in Ranchi

RANCHI: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has pleaded the special MP/MLA court in Ranchi for 15 days in connection with the defamation case filed on April 2019, for his alleged remarks on the surname-Modis.
The petitioner, Pradip Modi, claimed that Rahul while addressing a rally at Morabadi in Ranchi during the 2019 Lok Sabha elections had referred to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and traders Nirav Modi and Lalit Modi and asked why all persons bearing the title Modi are thieves.
Pradip had filed a complaint against Rahul, which was taken in cognizance by the court. Rahul filed a petition under section 205 of criminal procedure code (CrPC) praying to appear through his lawyer in the case. However, the court rejected the plea on May 3 and fixed the next date of hearing on Friday.
During the hearing, Rahul's advocate Pradeep Chandra mentioned that the MP/MLA court order rejecting Rahul's petition has been challenged in the High Court of Jharkhand. He said that the matter has not been taken up due to the summer vacation adding that now the HC has resumed functioning.
Chandra said, "The court has allowed us time. The next date of hearing would be known later on."