Savarkar Defamation Case: Pune court asks Rahul Gandhi to appear on May 9

An MP/MLA Court in Pune has asked Leader of Opposition and Congress Member of Parliament Rahul Gandhi to appear before it on May 9 for the recording of his plea in a criminal defamation case filed against him over his remarks concerning Hindutva ideologue Vinayak Damodar Savarkar..Gandhi had earlier been granted permanent exemption from personal appearance during the trial. However, the exemption was granted when the matter was being conducted as a summary trial. The nature of trial was later changed to summons trial after Gandhi himself sought permission to bring detailed evidence on record to back up his statements.The proceedings relate to a complaint filed by Satyaki Savarkar, grand-nephew of Vinayak Savarkar, who has alleged that Gandhi made defamatory comments about Vinayak Savarkar during a speech in London in March 2023. In his address, Gandhi allegedly referred to a passage in Savarkar’s writings describing an incident in which a group, including Savarkar, assaulted a Muslim man—a scene Gandhi claimed Savarkar had described as “pleasurable.” The complainant has categorically denied the existence of such a passage in Savarkar’s works..Earlier this month, Judicial Magistrate Amol Shriram Shinde allowed Gandhi’s application to convert the proceedings from a summary trial to a summons trial, enabling the defense to present historical and documentary evidence—procedural advantages not typically available in a summary trial format. The request was allowed as Gandhi had claimed that his statements were based on historical facts.Satyaki Savarkar has sought maximum punishment for Gandhi under Section 500 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) for criminal defamation, along with the maximum permissible compensation under Section 357 of the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC).The court has now directed Gandhi to remain present for the next hearing to formally record his pleadings. .Advocate Milind Pawar appeared for Gandhi.Advocate Sangram Kolhatkar appeared for Savarkar..Supreme Court pulls up Rahul Gandhi for remarks against Savarkar but stays summons.On Friday, the Supreme Court had pulled up Gandhi in relation to another case filed against him in Uttar Pradesh over remarks about Savarkar.The apex court took strong exception to Gandhi for saying that Vinayak Damodar Savarkar was a collaborator with the British who received pension from the British.Gandhi is facing charges before a Magistrate court in Lucknow under Sections 153A (promoting enmity) and 505 (public mischief) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) for his remarks. He then moved the top court to to quash the summons issued to him by the Magistrate court.However, the apex court said that Gandhi's statements against Savarkar were irresponsible and that the Court will initiate suo motu action if he makes similar statements.Nevertheless, it stayed the summons issued to him by the Magistrate court.