Savarkar Row: Rahul Gandhi Says ‘Not Guilty’ as Court Sets Next Hearing for July 24

Congress MP and Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, has pleaded not guilty in a defamation case connected to his comments on Vinayak Damodar Savarkar, a well-known Hindutva thinker and freedom fighter. The plea was entered on his behalf by his lawyer, Advocate Milind Pawar, since Gandhi did not attend the court hearing in person.

The case was heard at a Pune court by Judicial Magistrate (First Class) and MP/MLA Special Judge Amol Sriram Shinde. After reading out the charges, the court officially noted Gandhi’s denial through his legal representative.

Next Hearing Scheduled for July 24

Advocate Sangram Kolhatkar, who represents the complainant, Satyaki Savarkar (a relative of VD Savarkar), confirmed that the court has now completed the stage where the accused responds to the charge. With this phase done, the legal proceedings will now move to the trial stage. The next date for the hearing has been set for July 24, 2025.

What Led to the Case?

The defamation case is based on statements Rahul Gandhi made during a speech in London, where he criticized Savarkar and his ideology. Gandhi claimed that Savarkar and his associates were involved in violence against a Muslim man and that they seemed to take pride in it. He said, “Fifteen people with Savarkarji beat up one person and felt proud. That’s cowardice.”

These remarks triggered strong reactions, especially from those who view Savarkar as a hero of India’s independence movement.

Backlash and Legal Trouble

Following the speech, several individuals and groups accused Gandhi of insulting a national figure. The backlash led to legal action and public debates. The case even reached the Supreme Court, where Gandhi was cautioned about making such remarks on historical personalities.