Pune: Rahul Gandhi’s Legal Team Seeks Contempt Action Against Satyaki Savarkar in Pune Court Over Defamation Case Proceedings

Pune, 29th July 2025: In the ongoing criminal defamation case against Congress leader and Member of Parliament Rahul Gandhi over his remarks on freedom fighter Vinayak Damodar Savarkar, a new legal development has emerged.

Advocate Milind Dattatray Pawar, representing Gandhi, has moved the Special MP-MLA Court in Pune seeking contempt proceedings against complainant Satyaki Savarkar for allegedly defying repeated court directives.

The matter is currently being heard before Special Judge Amol Shinde. The case stems from a speech delivered by Gandhi in London, in which he allegedly made remarks that Satyaki Savarkar – a relative of Veer Savarkar – claims were defamatory. A CD and transcript of the speech were submitted when the complaint was filed.

However, the defense has now informed the court that despite multiple instructions from the bench and formal requests, the complainant has not provided the original CD or a certified transcript to the defense counsel.

In the plea for contempt proceedings, Adv. Pawar contended, “The complainant’s conduct amounts to deliberate non-compliance with the court’s orders. It obstructs the trial process and compromises the fairness of the proceedings.”

The application further alleges that the complaint is not an isolated legal action but part of a broader pattern of politically motivated litigation aimed at harassing opposition leaders. It states that “certain politically affiliated groups with criminal backgrounds and ideological opposition to secularism and constitutional values are misusing legal provisions across the country to target dissenters.”

It further points to what it calls a “double standard,” arguing that while several leaders from ruling parties have used “abusive and defamatory language” against former Prime Ministers like Indira Gandhi, Nehru, Rajiv Gandhi, and others, Congress leaders have refrained from retaliatory legal action out of respect for the democratic process.

The petition emphasizes that Rahul Gandhi continues to place faith in the Constitution and judiciary. “Mr. Gandhi’s commitment to the values of non-violence and truth, as championed by Mahatma Gandhi, is unwavering. His focus remains on uplifting the marginalized and defending constitutional rights, not political vendetta,” it states.

The contempt application also highlights the complainant’s familial ties, noting that Satyaki Savarkar is the grandson of Gopal Godse—convicted along with Nathuram Godse in Mahatma Gandhi’s assassination. The plea alleges that their ideological lineage reflects a disdain for democratic principles and that this case is an extension of that ideological battle.

“The judiciary is the last line of defense for our democracy. Attempts to misuse it to stall the functioning of elected representatives is deeply concerning,” the plea reads, asserting that the defamation complaint is intended not to secure justice but to obstruct Rahul Gandhi’s public duties.

The Special Court has taken the contempt plea on record. The matter is now scheduled for the recording of evidence on August 13, 2025.