A perjury plea has been filed against Congress MP and Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, accusing him of misleading the court in an ongoing defamation case related to his remarks on freedom fighter Vinayak Damodar “Veer” Savarkar.
Advocate Sangram Kolhatkar, representing Satyaki Savarkar — the grandnephew of Veer Savarkar — submitted the application on Wednesday, alleging that Gandhi repeatedly denied receiving evidence related to his controversial speeches in London, despite court records showing the documents were provided multiple times.
The application claims that instead of acknowledging the material, Gandhi submitted a written statement accusing Satyaki Savarkar of contempt of court. Advocate Kolhatkar has urged the court to initiate perjury proceedings, stressing that Gandhi’s position as Leader of Opposition makes the alleged misconduct more serious.
“We had supplied all relevant copies to the accused’s advocate, who had signed for them before the court. Despite this, the accused blatantly denies receiving the material. The accused is misleading the court, and we demand strict action,” Kolhatkar told ANI, adding that Gandhi’s counsel is expected to file a reply on September 10.
The defamation case stems from remarks Gandhi allegedly made on March 5, 2023, during an Overseas Congress event in London, which Satyaki Savarkar claims insulted his granduncle’s legacy and hurt his followers. He filed the original complaint in April 2023, later moving it to the Special MP-MLA court in Pune.
According to the complaint, Gandhi’s statements were intended to tarnish Veer Savarkar’s reputation and caused mental distress to his family. The court is scheduled to hear arguments on September 10.