Now Reading: Supreme Court quashes case against Rahul Gandhi over Savarkar remarks
-
01
Supreme Court quashes case against Rahul Gandhi over Savarkar remarks
The Supreme Court on Friday quashed criminal proceedings against Congress leader Rahul Gandhi over his 2022 remarks about Hindutva ideologue V.D. Savarkar, ruling that the prosecution lacked the mandatory sanction of the…
The Story in Brief
The Supreme Court on Friday quashed criminal proceedings against Congress leader Rahul Gandhi over his 2022 remarks about Hindutva ideologue V.D. Savarkar, ruling that the prosecution lacked the mandatory sanction of the Uttar Pradesh government. A bench of Justices Dipankar Datta and Sheel Nagu allowed Gandhi's petition after noting that approval required under law had not been obtained, and set aside summons issued by a Lucknow lower court.
The case arose from Gandhi's comments during the Bharat Jodo Yatra, where he described Savarkar as a 'servant of the British' and a 'receiver of pension' from the colonial administration. Lawyer Nripendra Pandey filed a complaint alleging defamation and promotion of disharmony, leading to summons under IPC Sections 153A and 505. The apex court found the proceedings untenable for want of sanction.
The Indian Opinion
This ruling is a procedural correction, not a verdict on Savarkar's legacy or Gandhi's remarks. Some will frame it as a judicial vindication of the opposition, others as a technical escape. But the core issue remains: the UP government must now decide whether to grant sanction. If it does, the case could be revived. The real test is not the court's order but the state's next move, which will expose whether the original complaint had legal merit or political motive.
Sources (2): nationalheraldindia.com, timesofindia.indiatimes.com
This story was synthesised by AI from the 2 sources linked above.
Updated: this story now draws on 2 sources.
