Grandnephew of Savarkar lodges legal action against Rahul Gandhi for failing to appear in court
Get the latest news in a quick read
Gandhi's Defamation Case Hearing Pushed to May 28
Things heated up in a defamation case against Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, as his grandnephew, Satyaki Savarkar, filed a complaint alleging Gandhi’s intention to skip court appearances.
On Friday, Savarkar, through his lawyer Sangram Kolhatkar, lodged the complaint with the Pune court, claiming Gandhi had failed to show up for the trial due to a supposed lack of preparation in reviewing case materials.
Although the court has granted Gandhi a permanent pass from attending the trial, the complaint stated that he should have been present for his bail plea hearing on May 26. The complaint also demanded the seizure of Gandhi's bail bond and aggressive action to ensure his attendance.
Regarding the defamation case, Gandhi was alleged to have made "objectionable" remarks about the late Hindutva ideologue, Vinayak Damodar Savarkar, during a speech in London in March 2023.
Advocate Kolhatkar argued that, while granting him bail, the court had stipulated that the defense would always appear for trial dates. However, Gandhi allegedly skipped the May 26 hearing, which led to the complaint.
Added controversy to the mix is the historical context of the comments, as no such incident had ever taken place, and VD Savarkar never admitted to any such act in writing.
Sangram Kolhatkar and Milind Pawar, Gandhi's defense lawyer, both sought time to file their respective replies. The court has adjourned the matter to May 28 for a better evaluation of the situation.
It's worth noting that, although this is not the first time Rahul Gandhi has faced criticism for his comments regarding historical figures, the Supreme Court of India intervened earlier, stressing the importance of respecting freedom fighters in the country.
(Pune raises the stakes in the defamation case against Rahul Gandhi, with his grandnephew filing a complaint for non-attendance of court hearings. Will Rahul Gandhi continue to dodge the bullet or face the music on May 28? The suspense is palpable.)
- Gandhi Defamation Case
- Satyaki Savarkar
- Rahul Gandhi
- Cities – Pune
- Despite being granted an exemption, Rahul Gandhi abstained from the May 26 bail plea hearing in the defamation case filed by his grandnephew, Satyaki Savarkar, in Pune.
- The proceedings of the Gandhi Defamation Case will continue on May 28, as both Sangram Kolhatkar (Savarkar's lawyer) and Milind Pawar (Gandhi's defense lawyer) have sought time to file their replies.
- In the politics and general-news section, the latest development sees Savarkar filing a complaint against Rahul Gandhi for wilfully not attending the court hearings related to the defamation case.
- The crime-and-justice sector takes a turn as the Pune court deals with the controversy surrounding Gandhi's defamation case, where he was accused of making objectionable remarks about the late Hindutva ideologue, Vinayak Damodar Savarkar.
