Purnesh Modi (born Purnesh Bhootwala)[1][2] is an MLA from the Gujarat Legislative Assembly and the current Deputy Speaker of the Gujarat Legislative Assembly. He won the by-election for the 13th Legislative Assembly in Gujarat following the death of the then MLA Kishor Vankawala. He lives in the Adajan area of Surat with his family.[3]
Political career
Modi won the by-election held on 4 December 2013 for the Surat West Assembly constituency.[4] He was re-elected from the same seat in the 2017 and 2022 elections.
Rahul Gandhi case
In 2019, Modi filed a criminal defamation case against Wayanad MP Rahul Gandhi for remarks comparing Prime Minister Narendra Modi with fugitives such as Lalit Modi and Nirav Modi.[5][6][7]
Gandhi had remarked, “Why do all thieves, be it Nirav Modi, Lalit Modi or Narendra Modi, have Modi in their names?”[8][9]
Modi had earlier sought a stay on the case he initiated, which was later lifted after a change of judge.[10]
On 23 March 2023, a Surat court convicted Gandhi and sentenced him to two years’ imprisonment. Following the Representation of the People Act, 1951, he was disqualified as a member of the Lok Sabha on 24 March 2023.[11][12]
On 4 August 2023, the Supreme Court of India stayed Gandhi’s conviction pending appeal.[13]
References
- ^ “BJP MLA behind Rahul’s disqualification changed name in 1988”. Madhyamam. Retrieved 25 March 2023.
- ^ “Blow to Rahul Gandhi as Gujarat HC refuses to stay his conviction”. Deccan Herald. Retrieved 25 March 2023.
- ^ “Who is Purnesh Modi? Why Surat court sentenced Rahul Gandhi to 2 years in jail?”. India Today. Retrieved 25 March 2023.
- ^ Bhatt, Himanshu (8 December 2013). “BJP wins Surat West byelection”. The Times of India. Retrieved 28 March 2023.
- ^ “From tea seller to MLA, all you need to know about Purnesh Modi”. Free Press Journal. Retrieved 25 March 2023.
- ^ Phadke, Manasi (23 March 2023). “Tea-seller to MLA, close to PM — all about Purnesh Modi”. ThePrint. Retrieved 25 March 2023.
- ^ “Who is Purnesh Modi?”. The Economic Times. 23 March 2023. Retrieved 25 March 2023.
- ^ “Rahul Gandhi disqualified as Lok Sabha MP”. The Indian Express. 24 March 2023. Retrieved 3 April 2023.
- ^ “Explained: Rahul Gandhi’s conviction”. Financial Express. Retrieved 31 March 2023.
- ^ “Twists and Turns in Rahul Gandhi’s Defamation Trial”. NewsClick. 24 March 2023. Retrieved 31 March 2023.
- ^ Dhillon, Amrit (23 March 2023). “Rahul Gandhi found guilty of defaming Narendra Modi”. The Guardian. Retrieved 30 March 2023.
- ^ “Rahul Gandhi sentenced to jail”. BBC News. 23 March 2023. Retrieved 30 March 2023.
- ^ NETWORK, LIVELAW NEWS (4 August 2023). “Supreme Court stays Rahul Gandhi’s conviction”. LiveLaw. Retrieved 4 August 2023.