Latest news with #SatyakiSavarkar
NDTV
11-07-2025
- Politics
- NDTV
Rahul Gandhi Pleads Not Guilty In Defamation Case Over Comments On Savarkar
Pune: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Friday pleaded not guilty in a Pune court in a defamation case pertaining to his comments on Hindutva ideologue V D Savarkar. Judicial Magistrate (First Class) and Special Judge (MP/MLA court) Amol Sriram Shinde read out the charge, levelled by Satyaki Savarkar, a grandnephew of V D Savarkar, to which RahulGandhi pleaded not guilty through his lawyer Milind Pawar. The Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha was not present in the court and his lawyer Pawar pleaded not guilty on his behalf before the court. The judge, during the recording of the plea, asked whether the accused has received copies of the complaint and accompanying documents, to which Pawar said yes. On the second question on whether the accused has understood the particulars of the offence levelled against him, the defence lawyer replied in the affirmative. On the third and last question, which was "do you plead guilty", Pawar replied "no, I do not plead guilty" on RahulGandhi's behalf. Advocate Sangram Kolhatkar, who is representing Satyaki Savarkar, said since the phase of recording of plea of the accused is over, the trial in the case will proceed now. Satyaki Savarkar had approached a court here in April 2023 with a criminal defamation complaint against Rahul Gandhi accusing him of making false allegations against the Hindutva ideologue during his address in London in March 2023. As per the complaint, Rahul Gandhi had allegedly told the gathering that Savarkar had written a book in which the latter stated that he and his five to six friends were beating a Muslim man and he (Savarkar) felt happy. As per Satyaki Savarkar's complaint, Rahul Gandhi's statement about VD Savarkar was false, malicious, and aimed at insulting him. "The matter pertaining to the defamation case against Rahul Gandhi was fixed for recording of plea. Today, I approached the court moving an application that permission be granted to record the plea on behalf of my client. The court allowed the application and on behalf of Mr Gandhi, I pleaded not guilty before the court," advocate Pawar told PTI Videos. As per the procedure, the judge read out the charge against Rahul Gandhi pertaining to his disputed speech in London to which the defence counsel pleaded not guilty, he said. Pawar added that the next hearing has been posted for July 29. Advocate Kolhatkar, appearing for Satyaki Savarkar, said considering the delay in recording the plea of the accused, the court instructed the defence to record the plea. "Since Mr Gandhi has been given permanent exemption from attending the trial physically, his lawyer pleaded not guilty on Mr Gandhi's behalf. The phase of recording of the plea is over and the case will now proceed for trial. On behalf of the complainant, we will be producing our witnesses and evidence. The defence will have an opportunity to cross examine them," Kolhatkar explained. (Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
Scroll.in
04-07-2025
- Politics
- Scroll.in
Cannot compel Rahul Gandhi to produce evidence against himself: Pune court in defamation case
A Pune court on Thursday rejected an application requesting a copy of the book Congress leader Rahul Gandhi had allegedly referred to while making an allegedly defamatory speech about Hindutva ideologue VD Savarkar in London, Live Law reported. Special Judge Amol Shinde of the MP/MLA court dismissed the plea filed by complainant Satyaki Savarkar, stating that Gandhi cannot be compelled to produce material that could be used as evidence against him, as it would violate his right against self-incrimination. The complainant is VD Savarkar's grand-nephew. The court agreed with the argument made by Gandhi's lawyer that since Satyaki Savarkar had filed a private complaint, the burden of proof lies with him to establish the allegations beyond reasonable doubt, Live Law reported. 'The accused cannot be compelled to disclose his defence before the commencement of the trial,' the court said. Forcing Gandhi to provide the book at this stage would violate his right to a fair trial and his ability to mount an effective defence, the court held. The application, filed by Satyaki Savarkar, claimed that the book Gandhi allegedly relied on to make the remarks was crucial and should be made available to the complainant. He claimed that the book cited by Gandhi simply did not exist, PTI reported. He also noted that the court had earlier allowed Gandhi to access copies of two books – Majhi Janmathep and Hindutva – authored by Savarkar. The case pertains to a complaint filed by Satyaki Savarkar in April 2023 against Gandhi, accusing him of making fictitious, false and malicious remarks about the Hindutva ideologue during an event in London in March 2023. Satyaki Savarkar alleged that Gandhi had made the remarks 'fully knowing the said allegations to be untrue, with the specific objective of harming the reputation and to defame the surname Savarkar…' As part of his complaint, Satyaki Savarkar submitted several news articles and a YouTube video of the London speech, Live Law reported. Earlier in April, the court had allowed Gandhi's request to change the nature of the proceedings from a summary trial to a summons trial to allow for more detailed evidence and historical context to be presented.
The Print
03-07-2025
- Politics
- The Print
`Defamation' of Savarkar: court says it can't compel Rahul Gandhi to produce `book' cited by him
Satyaki Savarkar, the complainant in the case, had filed the application in May, claiming no such book as cited by Gandhi existed, and he should be asked to produce it if it did. The Congress leader cannot be compelled to produce the book, said judge Amol Shinde of the special court for MPs and MLAs. Pune, July 3 (PTI) A court here on Thursday rejected a plea by the grandnephew of Vinayak Damodar Savarkar seeking access to a `book' cited by Congress leader Rahul Gandhi while allegedly making defamatory remarks against the late freedom fighter. The court, in its order, said the accused cannot be compelled to disclose his defense before the commencement of the trial. 'The accused may produce any relevant documents during the presentation of his defense evidence. If the accused is compelled to produce such evidence prematurely, it would amount to violation of his fundamental rights guaranteed under Article 20(3) of the Constitution of India, which protects against self-incrimination,' the order stated. 'As per Article 20(3)…'No person accused of any offence shall be compelled to be a witness against himself. Therefore, this Court is of the opinion that an order cannot be passed directing the accused to file the incriminating documents,' the judge further said. Satyaki Savarkar has filed a defamation complaint against Rahul Gandhi, citing his speech in London in March 2023. As per the complaint, the Congress MP claimed during the speech that V D Savarkar had written in a 'book' that 'he and five to six of his friends once beat up a Muslim man, and he (Savarkar) felt happy'. No such incident ever took place, nor did Savarkar write any such account, Satyaki Savarkar said in his defamation complaint. PTI SPK KRK This report is auto-generated from PTI news service. ThePrint holds no responsibility for its content.
Deccan Herald
03-07-2025
- Politics
- Deccan Herald
`Defamation' of Savarkar: court says it can't compel Rahul Gandhi to produce `book' cited by him
Satyaki Savarkar has filed a defamation complaint against Rahul Gandhi, citing his speech in London in March 2023. As per the complaint, the Congress MP claimed during the speech that V D Savarkar had written in a 'book' that 'he and five to six of his friends once beat up a Muslim man, and he (Savarkar) felt happy'.
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Business Standard
03-07-2025
- Politics
- Business Standard
Savarkar remark case: Court says Rahul can't be forced to submit cited book
A court here on Thursday rejected a plea by the grandnephew of Vinayak Damodar Savarkar seeking access to a 'book' cited by Congress leader Rahul Gandhi while allegedly making defamatory remarks against the late freedom fighter. The Congress leader cannot be compelled to produce the book, said judge Amol Shinde of the special court for MPs and MLAs. Satyaki Savarkar, the complainant in the case, had filed the application in May, claiming no such book as cited by Gandhi existed, and he should be asked to produce it if it did. The court, in its order, said the accused cannot be compelled to disclose his defense before the commencement of the trial. "The accused may produce any relevant documents during the presentation of his defense evidence. If the accused is compelled to produce such evidence prematurely, it would amount to violation of his fundamental rights guaranteed under Article 20(3) of the Constitution of India, which protects against self-incrimination," the order stated. "As per Article 20(3)...'No person accused of any offence shall be compelled to be a witness against himself. Therefore, this Court is of the opinion that an order cannot be passed directing the accused to file the incriminating documents," the judge further said. Satyaki Savarkar has filed a defamation complaint against Rahul Gandhi, citing his speech in London in March 2023. As per the complaint, the Congress MP claimed during the speech that V D Savarkar had written in a "book" that "he and five to six of his friends once beat up a Muslim man, and he (Savarkar) felt happy". No such incident ever took place, nor did Savarkar write any such account, Satyaki Savarkar said in his defamation complaint.
