Rahul Gandhi pleads not guilty in Pune court in defamation case over comments on Savarkar

He was represented by the lawyer of the opposition in Lok Sabha in court

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi claimed that he was not guilty in an insulting case for his comments on Hindutva Ideologi and Savarkar at a Pune court on Friday, July 11, 2025.

Judicial Magistrates’ Judge (First Class) and Special Judge (MP/MLA Court) Amol Sriram Shinde Read the accusation of Balance by Satyaki Savarkar, the grandson of Savarkar, whom he claimed to be not guilty by Milind Pawar, Mr. Gandhi’s lawyer.

The leader of the opposition in Lok Sabha was not in court, and his lawyer Mr. Pawar claimed that he was not guilty before the court.

During the recording of the objection, the judge asked whether the accused had taken copies of the complaint and whether Mr. Pawar said, ‘Yes’.

On the second question about whether the defendant understands the details of the crime level against him, his defense lawyer responded positively.

In the third and last question, “Do you defend the criminal”, Mr. Pawar replied, “No, I’m not guilty,” he replied.

Mr. Satyaki Savarkar representing the lawyer Sangram Kolhatkar, the defendant’s defense of the record of recording, the trial in the case will continue, he said.

Mr. Satyaki Savarkar approached a court with a complaint of slander who accused the wrong allegations of Hindutva ideologist during his address in London in March 2023 against Mr. Gandhi in April 2023.

According to the complaint, Mr. Gandhi claimed to the meeting that Savarkar wrote a book in which he and his five to six friends beat a Muslim man and said that (Savarkar) felt happy.

According to Mr. Satyaki Savarkar’s complaint, Mr. Gandhi’s statement about VD Savarkar was wrong, malicious and aimed to insult him.

“The issue of insulting against Rahul Gandhi was fixed for the recording of the objection. Today, I approached an application on behalf of my client. The court allowed the application on behalf of Mr. Gandhi and said that the court was not guilty.”

According to the procedure, Judge Read the accusation of the controversial speech against the defense lawyer against Mr. Gandhi claimed that he was not guilty.

Mr. Pawar added that the next hearing was published on 29 July.

Mr Kolhatkar, the defendant’s objection to the delay in the recording of the delay, the court instructed the defense to appeal to the defense, he said.

“As Mr. Gandhi was given permanent exemption from physically attending the hearing, he claimed that he was not guilty on behalf of his lawyer Mr. Gandhi. The stage of the defense will end and the case will continue for the trial. On behalf of the complainant, we will produce our witnesses and evidence.”