Patna: On Saturday, a Patna Court summoned Congress President Rahul Gandhi. The Court asked the Congress president to appear before it on May 20, in connection with a defamation suit against him by Bihar Deputy Chief Minister and BJP leader Sushil Modi. On Friday, the Bihar deputy CM appeared before the court in pursuance of his defamation suit against Gandhi.

Appearing before the court, Modi said that his image has been tarnished by the Congress chief's "why all thieves have Modi in their name" remark. The senior BJP leader requested the court to take cognisance of the comment under sections 499 and 500 of the IPC which relate to defamation, and issue summons to the Congress president and put him on trial.

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Modi in the court said that only he but millions of others who shared the same surname were facing ridicule on account of the "rash" remark of the Congress president. On April 18, Modi filed the defamation case against the Congress president. Meanwhile, Gandhi has, at a number of his rallies, attacked Prime Minister Narendra Modi over corruption and asked how all "thieves" have 'Modi' as the common surname, referring to fugitive businessman Nirav Modi and former IPL chairman Lalit Modi.

Earlier this week, the Congress president apologised for attributing ‘Chowkidar Chor Hai’ phrase against PM Narendra Modi to the Supreme Court’s Rafale Deal verdict. In response to the apex court's notice, Gandhi filed an affidavit in which he regretted his remarks. The Congress president said that the comment was made in the heat of campaigning. The plea was filed by Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP Meenakshi Lekhi seeking contempt action against the Congress president on April 12.

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