Rahul Gandhi moves Gujarat high court for stay on conviction

Indian National Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday moved the Gujarat high court seeking a stay on his conviction by a magisterial court in Surat last month, in the 'Modi surname' case.

Gandhi approached the HC challenging the order passed by a Surat sessions court on April 20 refusing to stay the conviction.

A stay on conviction could reinstate Gandhi to the Lok Sabha.

His Parliament membership as the representative of Wayanad in Kerala was suspended immediately after the magisterial court convicted him and sentenced him to two years in jail in the defamation case last month.

While additional sessions judge Robin Mogera refused to stay Gandhi's conviction, he suspended the sentence and granted him regular bail while his appeal is pending.