More trouble for Rahul Gandhi: Pune court summons Raebareli MP in defamation case over ‘Veer Savarkar’ remark

A Pune court has summoned Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition and Congress MP Rahul Gandhi in a defamation case related to comments he made about Veer Savarkar, ANI reported. The case was filed by a relative of Savarkar in connection with the statement he made during his visit to London. He is expected to attend the hearing on May 9, 2025.

April 25 Supreme Court hearing

This comes a day after the Supreme Court pulled up the Congress leader Rahul Gandhi for his comments. Notably, Veer Savarkar was a Hindutva ideologue, who is a revered figure among the Centre's ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

The Apex Court observed that Mahatma Gandhi had respected Savarkar, and Indira Gandhi had written to him. The top court warned the Rae Bareli Member of Parliament (MP) of ‘suo motu’ action as it stayed the summons issued against the leader by a Lucknow court in connection with his remarks against Savarkar. Speaking on the irresponsible statements about ‘freedom fighters,’ the court said, “Let him not make any statement on freedom fighters without knowing any history or geography,” LiveLaw reported.

The Supreme Court bench comprising Justice Dipankar Datta and Manmohan presided over the hearing and reprimanded Rahul Gandhi for referring to Veer Savarkar as a British servant. To counter Rahul Gandhi's statement, Justice Datta questioned if Mahatma Gandhi could be called the servant of the Britishers merely because he used the term ‘your faithful servant’ in his letters addressed to the Viceroy.

To quash the summons issued by a Lucknow court, Rahul Gandhi had knocked the door of the top court after April 4 order of the Allahabad High Court refused to repeal the complaint. The complainant, a lawyer, alleged that Gandhi’s statement promoted enmity. "Does your client know that his grandmother (Indira Gandhi), when she was the Prime Minister, also sent a letter praising the gentleman(Savarkar), the freedom fighter? "Justice Datta said while addressing Rahul Gandhi's counsel.

Advocate Nripendra Pandeyhad filed the complaint in December last year, alleging that Rahul Gandhi intended to spread hatred in the society as he called Veer Savarkar a servant of the British and that he took a pension from the British.