Who is Satyaki Savarkar, who filed a criminal defamation complaint against Rahul Gandhi?

Satyaki’s father Ashok was the son of Narayan Damodar Savarkar, the brother of Vinayak Damodar Savarkar. His grandfather Narayan was also a freedom fighter and a strong supporter of Vinayak Savarkar’s views, Satyaki said.

“Narayan Savarkar was active in the armed revolutionary movement against the Britishers, for which he also faced imprisonment. He worked covertly with several revolutionaries, including Durga Vohra. He had also worked with the Indian National Congress under the leadership of Lokmanya Tilak,” Satyaki said.

Satyaki’s father Ashok worked with Indo Burma Petroleum (IBP) and passed away in 2003. His mother Himani Savarkar was the daughter of Gopal Godse, the brother of Nathuram Godse and also a convict in the Mahatma Gandhi assasination case.

Himani passed away in 2015. She was the former president of Hindutva outfit Abhinav Bharat, some members of which have been accused of alleged involvement in Malegaon bomb blast of 2008. While Himani was not an accused, her statement was recorded by the Maharashtra ATS. The accused in this case are out on bail and the trial is on before a special NIA court in Mumbai.

Satyaki said he is the secretary and treasurer of Pune Nagar Hindu Sabha, and not an office-bearer of Abhinav Bharat.

Satyaki’s family also owns a publication house named “Mrutyunjay Prakashan”, which is being run by his wife. The couple have two school-going children.

According to Satyaki, he has been into oratory since childhood, and has delivered several speeches on Savarkar in different parts of Maharashtra and Karnataka.

In the criminal defamation complaint against Rahul Gandhi, Satyaki accused the Congress leader of making “false” and “malicious” allegations against Savarkar at an event during his recent visit to the UK.

Asked about the complaint, Satyaki said, “While talking at event in London, Rahul Gandhi has said that (Vinayak Damodar) Savarkar has penned a book in which he has written that he (Savarkar) and five-six of his friends were beating up a Muslim and felt delighted about what was happening. Rahul Gandhi then went on to ask whether this was not a cowardly act.”

But, Satyaki said, Savarkar “did not write any such book”, as claimed by the Congress leader, “nor has such an incident ever happened”. Satyaki has sought legal action against Rahul Gandhi under Section 500 (Punishment for defamation) of the Indian Penal Code.

“He (Rahul) has intentionally made false, malicious and wild allegations against Vinayak Damodar Savarkar, fully knowing the said allegations to be untrue, with the specific objective of harming the reputation and to defame the surname Savarkar…. The accused has deliberately uttered these words and sentences which were hurtful to the feelings of his family members and near relatives, followers of Late Savarkar and also would spark communal spark [tension] between two religions,” Satyaki stated in his plea.