Congress leader Rahul Gandhi is set to vacate his official bungalow at 12, Tughlaq Lane after being disqualified as an MP following his conviction in a defamation case. His belongings have already been moved to his mother Sonia Gandhi’s residence at 10 Janpath. According to sources, Rahul Gandhi is expected to hand over the bungalow to the Lok Sabha secretariat on Saturday.
The former Congress President had already moved his office and some personal belongings to his mother’s official residence on April 14. He had been residing in the bungalow for almost two decades.
Rahul Gandhi was convicted in a criminal defamation case on March 23 and was sentenced to two years, leading to his disqualification. He had appealed the magisterial court order in the sessions court in Surat, but his appeal was rejected.
Following his disqualification, the Lok Sabha Secretariat sent Gandhi a notice to vacate the premises by April 22. His remaining articles were moved out on Friday evening.
The Congress has said it will continue to explore all options available under the law after a Gujarat court rejected Rahul Gandhi’s application for a stay on his conviction in the defamation case. Congress leader Dr. Abhishek Manu Singhvi expressed disappointment with the verdict and called it “suspicious”. He said the party will approach a higher court at the earliest and challenge the sessions court order in the Gujarat High Court next week.