Congress leader Rahul Gandhi called himself innocent in a court in Pune on Friday (July 11, 2025) in a defamation case related to his comments on Hindutva thinker VD Savarkar. Judicial Magistrate (First Class) and Special Judge (MP/MLA court) Amol Shriram Shinde read the charge leveled by VD Savarkar’s grandson Satyaki Savarkar. On this, Rahul Gandhi argued that he was innocent himself through his lawyer Milind Pawar.
The Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Gandhi was not present in the court and his lawyer Pawar described him (Gandhi) innocent before his court. The judge asked whether the accused had received copies of the complaint and the documents related to it, to which Pawar replied in ‘yes’.
‘No, I do not consider myself guilty’
On the second question whether the accused has understood the details of the crime imposed against him, the defense counsel replied in ‘yes’. On the third and final question, that ‘do you convince’, Pawar replied on behalf of Gandhi ‘, I do not consider myself guilty’.
Advocate Sangram Kolhatkar, who is representing Satyaki Savarkar, said that since the phase of registering the arguments of the accused has now ended, now the hearing of the case will move forward.
Savarkar’s grandson complained in the year 2023
Satyaki Savarkar approached a court here in April 2023 and complained of criminal defamation against Rahul Gandhi, in which he was accused of making false accusations against the Hindutva thinker during his address in London in March 2023.
According to Satyaki Savarkar’s complaint, Gandhi’s statement about VD Savarkar was false, malicious and was aimed at insulting him. Pawar told ‘PTI’, ‘Arguments were to be registered against Rahul Gandhi in the defamation case. Today I submitted an application in the court that permission should be given to register arguments on behalf of my client. The court accepted this application.
Next hearing will be held on July 29
He said that according to the procedure, the judge read allegations related to his controversial speech against Gandhi in London, on which the defense lawyer described himself as innocent. Pawar said that the next hearing will be scheduled on July 29.
Advocate Kolhatkar, who appeared on behalf of Satyaki Savarkar, said that in view of the delay in filing the petition of the accused, the court directed the defense to register a petition. Since Gandhi has been given permanent exemption from being personally present in the trial, his lawyer has argued to be innocent on behalf of Gandhi.
Now evidence and witnesses will be offered
Kolhatkar said, ‘The phase of registering arguments is over and now the hearing of the case will start. We will present our witnesses and evidence on behalf of the complainant. The defense will get a chance to cross -examine them.
Also read:- Central government extended the tenure of Home Secretary Govind Mohan, played important responsibility during Korona epidemic