Court says no evidence Gandhi delayed trial; Savarkar’s grandson had sought strict action
A Special MP/MLA Court in Mumbai has dismissed an application that sought strict action against Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, including the cancellation of his bail, in the ongoing Savarkar defamation case.
The plea was filed by Satyaki Savarkar, the grandson of Vinayak Damodar Savarkar, claiming that Gandhi was deliberately delaying the trial. However, the court ruled there was no sufficient ground to support this allegation.
What the Court Said
In his May 28 order, Special Judge Amol Shinde stated:
“There are no sufficient reasons to seize the bail bonds of the accused. It is not found that the accused is prolonging the matter.”
Background of the Case
The defamation case was filed over Rahul Gandhi’s statements allegedly defaming Vinayak Savarkar, a right-wing nationalist figure. The complaint highlights a speech Gandhi gave in London on March 5, 2023, during which he allegedly made false claims about Savarkar.
Satyaki Savarkar, through his lawyer Sangram Kolhatkar, argued that Gandhi knowingly made false and malicious statements about Savarkar, including a claim that Savarkar wrote about assaulting a Muslim man—a statement the complainant says is completely untrue.
The complaint says these remarks hurt the reputation of Savarkar and caused mental agony to his family. Though the speech was made in the UK, it was published across India, especially in Pune, prompting the complaint.
Legal Demands by the Complainant
- Punishment under Section 500 of the Indian Penal Code (defamation)
- Compensation under Section 357 of the CrPC
- Allegation that Gandhi intended to harm Savarkar’s image for political gain
Earlier, the court had allowed Rahul Gandhi’s request to convert the case from a summary trial to a summons trial, so that historical records could be presented as evidence.
📌 Also Read: Defamation Cases in Indian Politics
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