SC Stays Summons Against Rahul Gandhi in Savarkar Remark Case, But Pulls Him Up for Loose Talk on Freedom Fighters

New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Thursday granted interim relief to Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, staying the summons issued by a Lucknow court in a defamation case linked to his controversial remarks on Hindutva ideologue and freedom fighter Vinayak Damodar Savarkar. However, the apex court did not mince words, cautioning Gandhi over his public statements on historical figures.

“Let him not make any statement on freedom fighters without knowing any history or geography,” a bench of Justices BR Gavai and Sandeep Mehta observed, while hearing Gandhi’s plea challenging the proceedings against him.

The case originates from a speech delivered by Gandhi on November 17, 2022, during his Bharat Jodo Yatra in Maharashtra’s Akola district, where he allegedly made disparaging remarks against Savarkar. A Lucknow-based lawyer subsequently filed a criminal complaint accusing him of promoting enmity and defaming a national figure.

On April 4, the Allahabad High Court had dismissed Gandhi’s plea to quash the summons, suggesting he first approach the sessions court for relief. The Congress leader then moved the Supreme Court, contesting the High Court’s refusal to intervene and the maintainability of the summons itself.

While granting the stay, the top court clarified that it was not endorsing Gandhi’s remarks, but was stepping in only to examine whether the criminal proceedings were legally sustainable. The justices underlined the need for responsible speech, especially from public representatives.

Gandhi, who currently serves as the Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, has often faced backlash from the BJP and its ideological affiliates over his views on Savarkar. The issue has triggered political storms in the past, particularly in Maharashtra, where Savarkar remains a revered figure.