Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, who had been abroad for few days, on Thursday appeared before a magisterial court here and pleaded not guilty in a criminal defamation case filed against him for his “why do all thieves share Modi surname” remarks.
Gandhi appeared before the court of Chief Judicial Magistrate BH Kapadia and pleaded not guilty when asked by the court whether he accepts the charges, levelled against him by BJP legislator from Surat-West, Purnesh Modi.
After Gandhi’s plea was recorded, his lawyers moved an application seeking permanent exemption from personal appearance. When Modi’s lawyers raised objection to the exemption plea, the court said it will decide on the plea on December 10.