Gujarat: The Gujarat High Court has declined to grant a stay on Rahul Gandhi's conviction and two-year jail term in a criminal defamation case, which ultimately led to his loss of Parliament membership. The court ruled that granting a stay on conviction is not the norm but an exception. The defamation case dates back to the 2019 Lok Sabha election campaign when Gandhi made a remark implying a connection between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and fugitive businessmen Nirav Modi and Lalit Modi. He stated, "How come all thieves have the common surname Modi." During a hearing on April 29, Gandhi's counsel argued that his client could face permanent and irreversible loss of his Lok Sabha seat since the offence carried a maximum punishment of two years. The lawyer highlighted the significant and irreversible consequences for both the person involved and the constituency represented. In May of this year, the Gujarat High Court reserved its order on Gandhi's plea for a
