A defamation case has been filed against Satyaki Savarkar, the grandnephew of Veer Savarkar, against Congress leader Rahul Gandhi before a First Class Judicial Magistrate, alleging that Gandhi deliberately misled the court.
In his complaint, Savarkar alleged that on July 29, Gandhi submitted a 15-page pursis denying receipt of a video containing an allegedly defamatory speech about Veer Savarkar.
The complainant claims that this denial was false and intended to misguide the court.
Savarkar’s lawyer, Sangram Kolhatkar, stated that Rahul Gandhi’s advocate had earlier admitted that they had received all documents submitted by the complainant, including a CD of the speech.
Furthermore, Kolhatkar submitted that Gandhi purportedly acknowledged receiving a pendrive with the video but claimed it was non-functional.
Savarkar’s application adds that another pendrive was later provided and successfully played in open court in the presence of Gandhi’s advocate. It also refers to another application filed on May 28, where Gandhi allegedly again admitted receipt of the pendrive but refused to operate it, citing fears of malware and subsequently returning it. The pendrive is now in court custody.
Savarkar contends that these actions show Gandhi attempted to create a false record and evade accountability. The application urges the court to initiate perjury proceedings, take judicial note of the alleged false statements, and treat the matter seriously given Gandhi’s constitutional role as Leader of Opposition.
Few days ago Gandhi filed an application before a Pune court seeking contempt of court proceedings against Satyaki Savarkar, grand-nephew of Hindutva leader Vinayak Damodar Savarkar, alleging repeated violations of judicial directives in the ongoing defamation case.
The application, filed by Gandhi through advocate Milind Pawar, accused Savarkar of wilfully disregarding court orders by failing to submit the original CD and an authenticated transcript of Gandhi’s speech, which form the basis of the defamation complaint lodged by Satyaki Savarkar.
CASE PERTAINS TO RAHUL GANDHI’S 2013 LONDON ADDRESS
The original defamation complaint was filed by Satyaki Savarkar, accusing Rahul Gandhi of making defamatory remarks against V D Savarkar in 2023 during an address in London in 2013.
The Congress leader had submitted an application seeking permission to record his plea through his lawyer Milind Pawar. The advocate representing Savarkar pointed out that the court had already granted a permanent exemption from Gandhi’s personal appearance and requested an appropriate order.
Magistrate A S Shinde observed that an accused’s presence is not mandatory and the court has the discretion to allow representation. Accordingly, Pawar was permitted to enter the witness box and record Gandhi’s plea.
– Ends