A Special Court in Pune has directed Congress leader Rahul Gandhi to appear before it on December 2 in connection with a defamation case filed against him for allegedly making objectionable comments about the late Vinayak Savarkar. The case was initiated by Satyaki Savarkar, the grandnephew of the prominent right-wing leader, who claims that Gandhi’s remarks have caused harm to his family’s reputation.
Judge Amol Shinde of the Special MP/MLA Court had earlier issued summons for Gandhi to appear in person, following a complaint under Section 500 (defamation) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC). Despite the summons being delivered to Gandhi’s office, the Congress leader did not appear in court. His counsel, Milind Pawar, argued that Gandhi, as the Leader of Opposition (LoP) and an MP from Rae Bareli, was tied up with election duties in various states, noting that his political schedule had kept him away from court. However, Pawar assured the court that Gandhi would appear at the next hearing.
In response, the court adjourned the matter and reiterated the importance of Gandhi’s personal attendance on December 2. The judge emphasized that the proceedings could not continue without Gandhi’s presence, marking a crucial moment in the defamation case.
The complaint stems from Gandhi’s speech on March 5, 2023, delivered at an Overseas Congress event in the United Kingdom. The complainant alleges that Gandhi made malicious and unfounded claims about Savarkar, specifically accusing him of writing a book in which he allegedly describes an incident of assaulting a Muslim, which the family asserts is entirely fabricated.
Satyaki Savarkar has submitted evidence, including news reports and a YouTube video of Gandhi’s speech, to support his claims. The defamation application seeks the maximum punishment for Gandhi under Section 500 of the IPC and requests the court to impose significant compensation as per Section 357 of the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC).
The outcome of this case could have significant political and legal ramifications, with both sides awaiting the next hearing on December 2.
