Pune Court Summons Rahul Gandhi in Savarkar Defamation Case, Hearing Set for October 23
PUNE, Oct. 5: A special court in Pune has summoned Congress leader Rahul Gandhi to appear in a criminal defamation case filed by Satyaki Savarkar, the grandnephew of Hindutva ideologue Vinayak Damodar Savarkar. The case revolves around allegedly objectionable remarks made by Gandhi about V.D. Savarkar during a speech in London in March 2023. The court has asked Gandhi to attend the hearing scheduled for October 23.
The defamation suit stems from a complaint lodged by Satyaki Savarkar last year, in which he accused the Congress leader of making false and damaging statements about his granduncle. According to the complaint, Gandhi claimed that Savarkar had written about an incident where he and a group of friends allegedly assaulted a Muslim man and expressed satisfaction afterward. Satyaki Savarkar strongly refuted this, asserting that no such event occurred and that V.D. Savarkar never wrote about it. He described Gandhi’s comments as “fictitious, false, and malicious.”
In response to the complaint, the case was initially handled by the Judicial Magistrate First Class (JMFC) court but was transferred to the special court for Members of Parliament and Members of Legislative Assembly (MPs and MLAs) last month. The special court, presided over by Joint Civil Judge and Judicial Magistrate (First Class) Amol Shinde, issued the summons against Gandhi, stating that his presence is required to face a charge punishable under Section 500 of the Indian Penal Code (defamation).
Advocate Sangram Kolhatkar, representing Satyaki Savarkar, confirmed the court’s decision to summon Gandhi, emphasizing that the court found merit in the complaint following a police investigation. The Vishrambaug police, tasked with examining the allegations, concluded that there was prima facie evidence supporting the defamation charge, further strengthening Satyaki Savarkar’s case.
The case adds to the ongoing legal challenges faced by the Congress leader, with defamation charges already a point of contention in other courts. Gandhi’s remarks about V.D. Savarkar have sparked controversy in political circles, especially among right-wing groups, for whom Savarkar remains an influential figure in the Hindutva movement.
The upcoming hearing on October 23 is expected to draw significant public attention, as the court will decide whether the allegations of defamation against Rahul Gandhi hold enough ground for further legal proceedings. If convicted under Section 500 of the IPC, the Congress leader could face legal penalties, adding another layer of complexity to his political trajectory.
