Indian opposition leader Rahul Gandhi on Monday was granted bail from the Surat Sessions Court in Gujarat state, days after his conviction in a defamation case.
As a result of his conviction, Gandhi was disqualified as a parliamentarian (as per Indian law, a legislator sentenced to jail for two years or more is disqualified from the date of conviction until six years after serving time).
The next hearing in his case has been scheduled for April 13.
A few minutes later, Gandhi took to Twitter to say in Hindi: "This is a fight to save democracy against 'Mitrakal.' In this struggle, truth is my weapon, and the truth is my refuge!"
The Hindi word "Mitrakal," which means "era of friendship," is an apparent dig at Prime Minister Narendra Modi over his alleged links to Gautam Adani, founder and chairman of the Adani Group, a multinational conglomerate involved in port development and operations.
Indian opposition parties have demanded that a joint parliamentary committee probe be conducted into Adani after US investment research company Hindenberg Research published a report accusing the holding of vast price rigging and fraud.
The court, meanwhile, has asked Gujarat’s Bharatiya Janata Party legislator Purnesh Modi, who filed the defamation case, to respond to Gandhi’s appeal by April 10.
Gandhi’s disqualification from parliament could be revoked if the court stays his conviction.