Congress MP and Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, has pleaded not guilty in a defamation case filed against him over remarks made about Hindutva ideologue Vinayak Damodar Savarkar during an event in the UK in 2023.
The plea was entered on Friday before Judicial Magistrate (First Class) and Special Judge for MP/MLA cases, Amol Sriram Shinde, at the Pune District Court. Gandhi was not present in person; his lawyer, Advocate Milind Pawar, appeared on his behalf.
The complaint was filed by Satyaki Savarkar, grandnephew of V.D. Savarkar, alleging that Gandhi made defamatory and derogatory statements during a speech at an Overseas Congress event in London on March 5, 2023. The comments, which were later shared on social media, allegedly damaged Savarkar’s legacy and caused mental distress to his family.
During the hearing, Judge Shinde read out the charge under Section 500 of the Indian Penal Code. Advocate Pawar acknowledged receipt of the complaint and related documents and confirmed that Gandhi understood the nature of the allegations. When asked whether Gandhi wished to plead guilty, Pawar responded on his behalf: “No. I do not plead guilty.”
The court has now scheduled July 29 for the commencement of evidence recording and hearings on other related applications — a step that signals the likely start of a full trial.
The case stems from a statement made by Gandhi in April 2023 that prompted Satyaki Savarkar to approach the Pune magistrate, alleging that the Congress leader had intentionally made false and harmful statements about the freedom fighter to malign his image.