Rahul Gandhi’s lawyer given video of alleged defamatory remarks on V D Savarkar

According to Satyaki, Gandhi had said that Savarkar had written a book in which he stated that he (Savarkar) and five to six of his friends beat up a Muslim and were ‘delighted’ about it. Satyaki said V D Savarkar had not written any such book as claimed by Gandhi, nor has such an incident ever happened.

In his petition, Satyaki had stated that Gandhi had intentionally made false, malicious and wild allegations against Savarkar. With his complaint, Satyaki had submitted a few news reports as well as a YouTube link of a video of Gandhi’s speech in London as evidence.

Gandhi’s counsel Milind Pawar had filed an application in the court on April 7, seeking this video, along with a copy of book “Mazi Janmathep” authored by V D Savarkar and other documents.

Accordingly, Satyaki’s lawyer Sangram Kolhatkar submitted the said video in a pendrive, the book as well as family tree of Satyaki Savarkar to special judge Amol Shinde of the MP/MLA court in Pune. The court then handed it over to advocate Pawar, who sought time “to go through and to verify the genuineness of the documents and pendrive in the interest of justice.”

Advocate Pawar requested the court to give sufficient time for filing the plea (on whether to admit or reject the allegations) on behalf of Gandhi. Court then kept the matter for hearing on May 9.

Later, in the daily status of the case on court’s website, it was stated that the accused (Rahul Gandhi) shall remain present for recording his plea on May 9. On January 10, Gandhi had virtually appeared before the court in Pune. The court had then granted him bail and also allowed his application seeking a permanent exemption from appearing personally in the court during the trial. The court however stated that his counsel should remain present for every hearing of the case.

Meanwhile, an informal discussion was held between the court and lawyers representing both the parties today on whether to send the case to mediation.

In his application filed today, advocate Pawar sought V D Savarkar’s book “Hindutva”, published in 1923, from the complainant Satyaki Savarkar.

In February, advocate Pawar had filed an application praying that the case may be “conducted as a summon trial in the interest of justice.” Pawar had stated that the registrar of the court had registered it as a “summary trial” case. “The present case raises complex questions of facts as well as law. Hence, it requires searching and detailed cross-examination, which may not be permissible under summary trial,” he had said.

The court allowed Pawar’s application for a summons trial. Pawar today submitted that “book Hindutva and is very important for evidence in this summons trial.”

When contacted, advocate Kolhatka said that the “Hindutva” book is not related to the case. “The defence should show in which of V D Savarkar’s book, the objectionable content claimed by Rahul Gandhi is mentioned…,” he said.

As per directions of the court, the Vishrambag police station of Pune city police had conducted an inquiry and submitted a report on May 27, 2024, that Gandhi had allegedly defamed Savarkar in his speech before the Indian diaspora in London in March 2023.