Article · Wikipedia archive · Last revised Jun 22, 2026

Purnesh Modi

Purnesh Modi is an MLA from the Gujarat Legislative Assembly and the current Deputy Speaker of the Gujarat Legislative Assembly. He won the by-election for the 13th Legislative Assembly in Gujarat following the death of the then MLA Kishor Vankawala. He lives in the Adajan area of Surat with his family.

Last revised
Jun 22, 2026
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Purnesh Modi
Deputy Speaker of Gujarat Legislative Assembly
Incumbent
Assumed office
16 February 2026
Bhupendra Patel
Shankar Chaudhary
Preceded byJethabhai Ahir
Member of the Gujarat Legislative Assembly
In office
2013–Incumbent
Preceded byKishor Vankawala
ConstituencySurat West
Personal details
PartyBharatiya Janata Party

Purnesh Modi (born Purnesh Bhootwala)12 is an MLA from the Gujarat Legislative Assembly and the current Deputy Speaker of the Gujarat Legislative Assembly. He won the by-election for the 13th Legislative Assembly in Gujarat following the death of the then MLA Kishor Vankawala. He lives in the Adajan area of Surat with his family.3

Political career

Modi won the by-election held on 4 December 2013 for the Surat West Assembly constituency.4 He was re-elected from the same seat in the 2017 and 2022 elections.

Rahul Gandhi case

In 2019, Modi filed a criminal defamation case against Wayanad MP Rahul Gandhi for remarks comparing Prime Minister Narendra Modi with fugitives such as Lalit Modi and Nirav Modi.567

Gandhi had remarked, "Why do all thieves, be it Nirav Modi, Lalit Modi or Narendra Modi, have Modi in their names?"89

Modi had earlier sought a stay on the case he initiated, which was later lifted after a change of judge.10

On 23 March 2023, a Surat court convicted Gandhi and sentenced him to two years' imprisonment. Following the Representation of the People Act, 1951, he was disqualified as a member of the Lok Sabha on 24 March 2023.1112

On 4 August 2023, the Supreme Court of India stayed Gandhi's conviction pending appeal.13

References

References

  1. "BJP MLA behind Rahul's disqualification changed name in 1988". Madhyamam. Retrieved 25 March 2023.
  2. "Blow to Rahul Gandhi as Gujarat HC refuses to stay his conviction". Deccan Herald. Retrieved 25 March 2023.
  3. "Who is Purnesh Modi? Why Surat court sentenced Rahul Gandhi to 2 years in jail?". India Today. Retrieved 25 March 2023.
  4. Bhatt, Himanshu (8 December 2013). "BJP wins Surat West byelection". The Times of India. Retrieved 28 March 2023.
  5. "From tea seller to MLA, all you need to know about Purnesh Modi". Free Press Journal. Retrieved 25 March 2023.
  6. Phadke, Manasi (23 March 2023). "Tea-seller to MLA, close to PM — all about Purnesh Modi". ThePrint. Retrieved 25 March 2023.
  7. "Who is Purnesh Modi?". The Economic Times. 23 March 2023. Retrieved 25 March 2023.
  8. "Rahul Gandhi disqualified as Lok Sabha MP". The Indian Express. 24 March 2023. Retrieved 3 April 2023.
  9. "Explained: Rahul Gandhi's conviction". Financial Express. Retrieved 31 March 2023.
  10. "Twists and Turns in Rahul Gandhi's Defamation Trial". NewsClick. 24 March 2023. Retrieved 31 March 2023.
  11. Dhillon, Amrit (23 March 2023). "Rahul Gandhi found guilty of defaming Narendra Modi". The Guardian. Retrieved 30 March 2023.
  12. "Rahul Gandhi sentenced to jail". BBC News. 23 March 2023. Retrieved 30 March 2023.
  13. NETWORK, LIVELAW NEWS (4 August 2023). "Supreme Court stays Rahul Gandhi's conviction". LiveLaw. Retrieved 4 August 2023.