A Surat magistrate court has ordered Rahul Gandhi, the Congress leader, to appear before it on October 29 to record his testimony in connection with a criminal defamation complaint filed against him.
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On Monday, Chief Judicial Magistrate A N Dave directed Gandhi to return to court on October 29 to complete his statement. Two additional witnesses testified since the Congress leader last appeared in court on June 24.
Gandhi had already appeared in court in October 2019 and pleaded not guilty to remarking. “On Monday, the court orally ordered Rahul Gandhi to appear on October 29 to record a new statement in response to the testimony of two additional witnesses.
Gandhi’s lawyer, Kirit Panwala, said Gandhi is likely to appear in court between 3 and 6 p.m. on that day. Purnesh Modi, a BJP legislator from Surat, filed a defamation suit against Gandhi under Indian Penal Code.
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Purnesh Modi is currently a minister in Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel’s new Gujarat cabinet, with road and construction, transportation, civil aviation, and tourist and pilgrimage development ministries.
