Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has 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, accuses the complainant 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.

Satyaki Savarkar had earlier filed a criminal defamation case against Gandhi, objecting to alleged derogatory remarks made against V D Savarkar during a public address. At the time of filing, Savarkar submitted a CD and a transcript of the speech as supporting material.

However, according to Gandhi’s legal team, despite multiple reminders and a clear directive from the court, these materials have not been provided in a usable format. Instead of the original CD, a pen drive was submitted, which the defence claims is corrupted and unreadable on any device.

“This has caused serious prejudice to the accused’s right to effectively prepare and conduct his defence,” the application states, arguing that the complainant’s conduct obstructs the judicial process and amounts to contempt of court.

The plea urges the court to take “serious note” of the continued non-compliance before the trial formally begins, and to initiate contempt proceedings to uphold the integrity of the judicial process.

In his application, Gandhi also asserts that the defamation case appears to be part of a larger, politically motivated campaign to target him. He alleges that certain individuals affiliated with ideologies opposed to constitutional values—particularly those aligned with the RSS and Hindutva—are misusing the judicial process to file “false and frivolous” cases against him across the country.

“It is not the pursuit of justice but a deliberate attempt to harass and distract the accused from his public duties,” the application reads.

The plea also notes that while several leaders from ruling parties have made allegedly derogatory remarks about past Congress Prime Ministers and leaders, the Congress has never retaliated by filing similar complaints. It claims Rahul Gandhi has consistently demonstrated respect for the judiciary and the Constitution, and that this respect is being exploited by ideological opponents.

The application reiterates a claim previously made by Gandhi that Satyaki Savarkar is the grandson of Gopal Godse, one of the men convicted alongside Nathuram Godse for the assassination of Mahatma Gandhi.

The Pune court has taken the application on record. The next hearing in the matter is scheduled for August 13.

– Ends

Tune In