Pune Court Grants Rahul Gandhi Permanent Exemption in Savarkar Defamation Case
A Pune court on Tuesday granted Congress MP Rahul Gandhi permanent exemption from appearing in a defamation case filed over his alleged remarks on Hindutva ideologue Veer Savarkar. The court cited his status as Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, his Z+ security cover, and the expenses involved in ensuring his safety during visits.
The case was filed by Satyaki Savarkar, grandnephew of the freedom fighter, who claimed Gandhi misquoted Savarkar in a 2023 speech in London. The court also allowed a defence plea to convert the trial from a “summary” to a “summons” trial, enabling detailed cross-examinations and discussions on historical references. Rahul Gandhi, who had secured bail last month, was represented by Advocate Milind Pawar, who argued that the high-security arrangements and law and order concerns justified the exemption.
The court acknowledged these factors in its ruling. Meanwhile, Satyaki Savarkar’s lawyer, Sangram Kolhatkar, objected to certain references made by the defence about Pune’s security, stating that the portrayal of the city as unsafe was misleading. The next hearing in the matter is scheduled for February 25.
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