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Rahul Gandhi’s lawyer opposes voice sample plea in Savarkar defamation case
Rahul Gandhi’s lawyer opposes voice sample plea in Savarkar defamation case
The defence lawyer for Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday opposed a plea seeking his voice sample in a defamation case filed by Satyaki Savarkar, grandson of Hindutva ideologue V D Savarkar. Arguing before a Pune special MP/MLA court, lawyer Milind D Pawar said the case had not yet reached the stage where defamatory intent must be proved, making a voice sample unnecessary at this point.
The application was filed after Gandhi appeared in Pune on August 22, 2026, for cross-examination of the complainant. Pawar told ANI the court directed the defence to file a formal response by September 1. The defamation case stems from a speech Gandhi allegedly made about Savarkar during an Overseas Congress event in London in March 2023.
In earlier cross-examination, Satyaki Savarkar admitted that his maternal grandfathers Gopal Godse and Nathuram Godse were active RSS members, and confirmed Savarkar-Godse family ties. The next hearing is set for September 1.
Indian Opinion Analysis
The defamation case against Rahul Gandhi is one of several legal battles he faces, including a 2023 conviction in a different defamation case over his 'Modi surname' remark that led to his parliamentary disqualification, later restored by the Supreme Court. The stakes here extend beyond Savarkar's legacy: a conviction could again threaten Gandhi's Lok Sabha seat. The voice-sample application is a procedural tactic, common in defamation trials where the accused denies making the imputed statement or disputes the context. The law requires the court to be satisfied that the sample is necessary for a fair trial, not a fishing expedition. The next hearing on September 1 will clarify whether the sample will be ordered or rejected.
Source: timesofindia.indiatimes.com
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