Daijiworld Media Network - Pune

Pune, Jul 11: Congress leader and Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi has pleaded not guilty in the defamation case filed over his remarks against Hindutva ideologue V D Savarkar.

Rahul Gandhi's lawyer, advocate Milind Pawar, submitted the not-guilty plea on his behalf before Judicial Magistrate (First Class) and Special Judge (MP/MLA court) Amol Sriram Shinde in Pune on Friday. Gandhi was granted permanent exemption from personal appearance in the matter.

The court proceedings began with Judge Shinde reading out the charges based on the complaint filed by Satyaki Savarkar, grandnephew of V D Savarkar. When asked if the accused had received the complaint documents and understood the charges, the defence confirmed both. Advocate Pawar then formally pleaded "not guilty" on Gandhi’s behalf.

Advocate Sangram Kolhatkar, representing Satyaki Savarkar, confirmed that the plea recording phase has concluded and the case will now move to trial. “We will begin producing our witnesses and presenting evidence. The defence will have an opportunity to cross-examine them,” he said.

The defamation complaint dates back to April 2023, following Rahul Gandhi’s speech in London in March that year. According to the complainant, Gandhi falsely alleged that Savarkar had written about beating a Muslim man and deriving pleasure from it.

Calling the remarks "false, malicious and insulting", Satyaki Savarkar approached the court seeking legal action. The court has scheduled the next hearing for July 29.