Pune Court Grants Rahul Gandhi Permanent Exemption from Day-to-Day Hearings in Defamation Case

Shivajinagar, 19th February 2025: A special court in Pune has granted Congress leader and Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, permanent exemption from attending daily hearings in a defamation case filed by Satyaki Savarkar, the grandnephew of Vinayak Damodar Savarkar. The case stems from alleged defamatory remarks made by Gandhi during a speech in London in March 2023.

The order, issued by Special Magistrate Amol Shinde on Tuesday, noted that Gandhi’s Z+ security cover and his responsibilities as Leader of Opposition require him to travel extensively across the country for official, political, and social engagements. The court stated, “Considering the security expenses and law and order concerns, this court finds it appropriate to grant Rahul Gandhi permanent exemption from personal appearance in the case.”

However, the exemption comes with conditions—Gandhi cannot dispute his identity during the trial and must accept that evidence will be recorded in his absence.

Earlier, Gandhi’s lawyer, Milind Pawar, filed a petition requesting the court to convert the case from a summary trial to a summons trial under Section 258 of the Criminal Procedure Code. This would allow for a more detailed recording of evidence, including witness testimonies.

“The current case is being tried summarily, where detailed cross-examinations are not permitted,” said Pawar. “Given the complexity of the legal and factual issues involved, a summons trial would ensure a fair and comprehensive examination of the matter. This does not disadvantage either party but rather serves the interest of justice.”

The court has asked Satyaki Savarkar’s lawyer, Sangram Kolhatkar, to submit a written response before the next hearing on February 25.

Satyaki Savarkar filed the defamation complaint after watching a video of Gandhi’s speech, where he claimed the remarks made against Vinayak Savarkar were defamatory and not in the public interest. Initially, the case was being heard in a Junior Magistrate First Class (JMFC) court but was later transferred to a special court for MPs and MLAs in September 2024.