Archive · 5 Aug 2026
Savarkar grandnephew tells court he criticised cow worship
A man named Satyaki Savarkar went to court in Pune, India.
He is the grandnephew of a famous leader named Vinayak Damodar Savarkar.
The court is hearing a case about things Rahul Gandhi, a leader of the Congress party, said about the older Savarkar.
In court, Satyaki agreed that his granduncle thought of cows as useful animals, not gods.
His granduncle wrote that cows should be protected, but not worshipped.
He even wrote that killing a cow might become necessary if it stopped being useful and became harmful.
Gandhi's lawyers brought a book written by Savarkar called 'Essays based on Scientific Reasoning.'
In it, Savarkar said calling cows 'Gaumata' was okay only as a symbol, and treating cow dung and cow urine as sacred was wrong.
The case began because Gandhi spoke about Savarkar in London in March 2023, and Satyaki filed his complaint in April 2023.
Satyaki Savarkar, grandnephew of Hindutva ideologue VD Savarkar, told a special MP/MLA court in Pune that Savarkar regarded cows only as 'useful' animals and criticised worshipping them.
The testimony came during cross-examination in a criminal defamation trial filed by Satyaki against Congress leader and Lok Sabha Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi.
Gandhi's counsel cited the book 'Vigyan-Nishtha Nibandha' (Essays based on Scientific Reasoning), which Satyaki acknowledged was written by his granduncle.
In the book, VD Savarkar wrote that cows should be protected for their usefulness like dogs, horses and donkeys rather than worshipped, and that slaughter could become necessary if a cow became harmful.
The case stems from a complaint Satyaki filed in April 2023 over remarks Gandhi made about Savarkar in London in March 2023, which Satyaki called false and malicious.
- Who
- Satyaki Savarkar, grandnephew of VD Savarkar, testifying in a criminal defamation trial against Congress leader and Lok Sabha Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi.
- What
- Testimony confirming that VD Savarkar viewed cows only as 'useful' animals and criticised worshipping them as deities, based on his book Vigyan-Nishtha Nibandha.
- When
- Tuesday, during a hearing of the criminal defamation case; the complaint was filed in April 2023 and Gandhi's remarks were made in March 2023.
- Where
- A special MP/MLA court in Pune, India; Gandhi's original remarks were made in London.
- Why
- The testimony was part of the defamation case over Gandhi's remarks about Savarkar, which Satyaki Savarkar called false and malicious.
Complainant (Satyaki Savarkar)
Defense (Rahul Gandhi)
Nature of Gandhi's remarks
Complainant (Satyaki Savarkar)
Gandhi made false and malicious remarks about VD Savarkar during a March 2023 London event, damaging the ideologue's reputation.
Defense (Rahul Gandhi)
The remarks are defensible because Savarkar's own writings, acknowledged by the complainant, show he criticised cow worship and the sacred treatment of cows.
Reason for Savarkar's release from prison
Complainant (Satyaki Savarkar)
Satyaki Savarkar told the court on July 1 that Savarkar was released due to political pressure, not mercy petitions.
Defense (Rahul Gandhi)
The mercy petitions Savarkar wrote to the British colonial administration are pointed to as a factor in his release.
- Court
- Special MP/MLA court, Pune
- Case type
- Criminal defamation trial against Rahul Gandhi
- Complainant
- Satyaki Savarkar
- Complaint filed
- April 2023
- Remarks in question
- Made by Rahul Gandhi in London, March 2023
- Book cited
- Vigyan-Nishtha Nibandha (Essays based on Scientific Reasoning)
- VD Savarkar's imprisonment
- Cellular Jail, Andaman and Nicobar islands, 1911-1921
- Conditional release
- 1924, confined to Ratnagiri district until 1937
