4 min readPuneApr 4, 2024 06:27 PM IST
First published on: Apr 4, 2024 at 06:27 PM IST
Satyaki Savarkar, the grand nephew of freedom fighter and right wing ideologue Vinayak Damodar Savarkar, on Thursday questioned the alleged delay in police investigation into the criminal defamation complaint filed against Congress leader Rahul Gandhi.
“Is the police under any pressure or what is the reason that YouTube is not providing information to the cops? Why is there such a delay in the police probe? The authorities concerned in the police department and government should look into the matter,” Satyaki told reporters in Pune.
In April last year, Satyaki had filed a complaint before a magistrate court in Pune following Gandhi’s alleged remarks against Vinayak Savarkar during a function held in London in March 2023.
Along with the 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.
The court recorded statements of Satyaki and two witnesses.
In January 2024, the court of judicial magistrate first class (JMFC) Akshi Jain directed the Pune City police to conduct an inquiry into the defamation complaint as per the provisions of section 202 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC) and submit its report by February 23.
Following the court order, the Vishrambag police station of Pune City police initiated an inquiry, but has not filed its report till date.
On April 2, the police sought more time from the court to complete its inquiry and submit the report. The police told the court in writing that it was not possible to conduct further inquiry into the matter as despite repeated communication, YouTube has not provided any information (profile, IP address, email etc) regarding the link carrying the video of Rahul Gandhi’s speech.
The court then ordered in favour of the police. “…Considering all submissions, time is granted till the next date,” the court order stated. Satyaki’s lawyer Sangram Kolhatkar said the next date of hearing is May 27.
According to Satyaki, Rahul Gandhi said in London that (Vinayak Damodar) Savarkar had written a book in which he had said 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 Savarkar has not written any such book as claimed by Rahul Gandhi nor has such an incident ever happened. Hence I filed a defamation case against Rahul Gandhi in a Pune court,” he said.
Satyaki stated in his petition, “The accused (Rahul Gandhi), for reasons best known to him, has been repeatedly defaming and abusing the late Vinayak Damodar Savarkar in various occasions for over many years…He 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…..”
In his criminal defamation application, Satyaki demanded maximum punishment for the accused under section 500 (Punishment for defamation) of the Indian Penal Code. “Maximum compensation may kindly be imposed upon the accused according to section 357 (Order to pay compensation) of the Code of Criminal Procedure,” he stated.
Along with the complaint, Satyaki (right) had submitted a few news reports as well as a YouTube link of a video of Gandhi's speech in London as evidence. 
Share
