Surat/IBNS: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi will challenge his conviction in a criminal defamation case over the 'Modi surname' remark in a Surat court on Monday, media reports said.

Rahul will land in Surat at 2 pm.

He will be accompanied by Chief Ministers from Congress-governed states and top leaders including party general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra.

Slamming Rahul, BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra on Monday said, "Rahul Gandhi of course can challenge the conviction with a lawyer or a battery of lawyers. But Rahul prefers to create a drama with party leaders in Surat."

During the 2019 Lok Sabha poll campaign, Rahul had said, "How come all the thieves have Modi as the common surname."

A complaint, which was lodged by Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Purnesh Modi, had claimed Rahul had defamed the entire Modi community.

A Surat court convicted Rahul to a two-year jail imprisonment. He is presently on bail.

After he was convicted, the Congress leader was disqualified by Parliament's lower house Lok Sabha.

He was an MP from Kerala's Wayanad constituency.