New Delhi, 14 August (H.S.):

The Supreme Court has quashed the criminal defamation case pending before a trial court in Lucknow against Congress leader Rahul Gandhi over his remarks concerning freedom fighter Vinayak Damodar Savarkar. The order was passed by a Bench headed by Justice Dipankar Datta.

The Supreme Court also set aside the summons issued against Rahul Gandhi by the Lucknow court. The court observed that the affidavit filed by the Uttar Pradesh government did not mention anywhere that sanction had been granted to prosecute Gandhi. In the absence of such sanction, the trial court's order was set aside.

Earlier, on April 25, 2025, the Supreme Court had reprimanded Rahul Gandhi over his remarks concerning Savarkar. The court had said that no one could be permitted to make irresponsible or disparaging statements against freedom fighters. It observed that freedom fighters had secured India's independence and questioned how they were being treated. The court had also warned Gandhi that if he made any such statement in the future, it could take suo motu cognisance and initiate appropriate action.

However, on April 25, 2025, the Supreme Court had stayed the proceedings in the criminal defamation case pending against Gandhi before the Lucknow trial court. The court had also stayed the summons issued to him by the lower court while cautioning him against making such remarks about freedom fighters.

During his Bharat Jodo Yatra, Rahul Gandhi had made remarks against Savarkar, referring to him as a servant of the British and alleging that he received a pension from the British.

During the earlier hearing, Justice Dipankar Datta had questioned whether Mahatma Gandhi could similarly be described as a servant of the British merely because he had used the expression “Your faithful servant” in a letter addressed to the Viceroy.

The court had also told Abhishek Manu Singhvi, the counsel appearing for Rahul Gandhi, that Gandhi's grandmother, who had served as Prime Minister of India, had written letters praising Savarkar. The court had stressed that freedom fighters could not be treated in such a manner and advised Singhvi to convey to Gandhi that he should refrain from making irresponsible statements about freedom fighters.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar