The Gujarat High Court to hear the plea filed by Congress leader Rahul Gandhi in the ‘Modi surname’ defamation case on 2 May. The hearing date was adjourned to 2 May after Abhishek Manu Singhvi, appearing for Rahul Gandhi in the defamation case, argued in the court that the Congress leader's offence was not serious nor did it involve any "moral turpitude". In his plea, Rahul Gandhi also sought a stay on his conviction.

The bench headed by Justice Hemant Prachchhak, the court on Saturday began hearing Rahul Gandhi's revision application against the Surat sessions court on April 20 order declining a stay to his conviction for criminal defamation over his ‘why all thieves have the Modi surname’ remark.

Rahul Gandhi's conviction in the ‘Modi surname’ case, the Congress leader would be reinstated as the Lok Sabha MP.

There are very serious ex-facie vitiating factors of the trial that raise grave apprehension about the process of trial," advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi argued, adding, “In the case of a public servant or a legislator, it has very serious additional irreversible consequences - to the person, the constituency, and also drastic consequences of re-election."