A Pune court has ordered Congress MP and Lok Sabha LoP Rahul Gandhi to appear before it on October 23 in connection with a defamation case filed by Satyaki Ashok Savarkar, the grandson of Hindutva ideologue Vinayak Damodar Savarkar. The case stems from remarks made by Rahul Gandhi last year during an event in the United Kingdom, where he allegedly referred to Savarkar’s writings in a controversial manner.

During his speech in March 2023, Rahul Gandhi alleged that Savarkar had written about himself and a friend attacking a Muslim man, an act he allegedly was happy doing. “In fact, Savarkar wrote in his book that he along with his five friends attacked one Muslim man and he was very happy about it. That’s their ideology,” the Congress leader remarked.

It’s in the nature of BJP/RSS to fight with weaker people only and to surrender in front of the stronger ones.

In fact, Savarkar wrote in his book that he along with his five friends attacked one Muslim man and he was very happy about it. That’s their ideology.

— Rahul Gandhi pic.twitter.com/GEYei1WHIl

— Shantanu (@shaandelhite) March 5, 2023

Satyaki Savarkar filed a complaint, claiming that these remarks were defamatory and hurtful to his family’s sentiments.

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Satyaki Savarkar’s Complaint Against Rahul Gandhi

In his complaint, Satyaki Savarkar alleged, “Rahul Gandhi, for his well-known reasons, has repeatedly insulted and defamed Savarkar on various occasions. On 5 March 2023, while addressing an Overseas Congress gathering in the United Kingdom, he made baseless allegations against Savarkar, intending to damage his reputation despite knowing the accusations were false.”

The complaint further stated, “Rahul Gandhi’s objective was to tarnish Savarkar’s legacy, disgrace the name ‘Savarkar’, and inflict emotional distress upon Savarkar’s family.”

Satyaki Savarkar has demanded that Rahul Gandhi be prosecuted under the law and that he receive the maximum punishment possible. He has also sought compensation for the emotional distress caused to his family by Gandhi’s statements.

The court summons, signed by Joint Civil Judge A. S. Shinde, directs Rahul Gandhi to attend the hearing in person. This summons is part of a larger set of legal challenges Rahul Gandhi faces over his remarks about Savarkar. Recently, a Nasik court also summoned the Congress leader in a separate defamation case concerning Savarkar.

(With Inputs By Mandar)