Rahul Gandhi, the Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, appeared via video link before Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate R C Narwadia and pleaded not guilty
Rahul Gandhi is also facing a separate defamation case in Pune. File Pic
A court in Nashik district of Maharashtra has granted bail to Congress leader Rahul Gandhi in a defamation case filed over his comments about Hindutva ideologue and freedom fighter V D Savarkar during the Bharat Jodo Yatra in 2022, reported the PTI.
Rahul Gandhi, the Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, appeared via video link before Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate R C Narwadia and pleaded not guilty.
The case was filed by Devendra Bhutada, a local resident and NGO director, through his lawyer Manoj Pingle, under Sections 500 (defamation) and 504 (intentional insult with intent to provoke breach of peace) of the Indian Penal Code, according to the PTI.
Following Rahul Gandhi’s plea, his legal team requested bail, which was granted on a bond of Rs 15,000, said advocate Pingle.
The complainant alleged that Rahul Gandhi’s statements made at a press conference in Hingoli and during a speech on the Bharat Jodo Yatra in November 2022 had damaged the reputation of Savarkar, the news agency reported.
“The speech of the accused, along with press statements, attempts to tarnish the image of my idol, Swatantryaveer Savarkar, and his contributions to society and the freedom movement,” the complaint stated, the PTI reported.
The remarks in question involved Rahul Gandhi alleging that “Savarkar prayed for release with folded hands and later promised to serve the British government,” which the complainant claims amounted to an attack on Savarkar’s legacy.
Rahul Gandhi is also facing a separate defamation case in Pune, filed by Savarkar’s grandnephew, over similar remarks concerning the late Hindutva icon.
Earlier this month, Rahul Gandhi had pleaded not guilty in a Pune court in the case.
Judicial Magistrate (First Class) and Special Judge (MP/MLA court) Amol Sriram Shinde read out the charge, levelled by Satyaki Savarkar, a grandnephew of V D Savarkar, to which Rahul Gandhi pleaded not guilty through his lawyer Milind Pawar, according to the PTI.
The Leader of Opposition (LoP) in the Lok Sabha was not present in the court and his lawyer Milind Pawar pleaded not guilty on his behalf before the court.
The judge, during the recording of the plea, asked whether the accused has received copies of the complaint and accompanying documents, to which Pawar said yes, as per the PTI.
On the second question on whether the accused has understood the particulars of the offence levelled against him, the defence lawyer replied in the affirmative, the news agency reported.
On the third and last question, which was "do you plead guilty", Milind Pawar replied "no, I do not plead guilty" on Rahul Gandhi's behalf.
(with PTI inputs)
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