2 weeks ago
Supreme Court Quashes Rahul Gandhi Defamation Case Over Savarkar Remarks
Rahul Gandhi is an important leader in India's parliament.
During a big walk called the Bharat Jodo Yatra, he said things about a historic leader named Savarkar.
He called Savarkar a servant of the British and said he got a pension from them.
Some people were upset, and a lawyer named Nripendra Pandey filed a court case.
The lawyer said Gandhi wanted to spread hate in society.
But Indian law says some cases need permission from the state government before they go to court.
The Uttar Pradesh government never gave that permission.
So the highest court in India, the Supreme Court, cancelled the case and the summons against Gandhi.
The judges said the complaint could not stand without that permission.
Gandhi still faces another court case about things he said in London.
The Supreme Court quashed the criminal defamation complaint and summons against Rahul Gandhi over his November 2022 remarks about Vinayak Damodar Savarkar.
A bench of Justices Dipankar Datta and Sheel Nagu found the Uttar Pradesh government's affidavit disclosed no prosecution sanction, so the complaint and the magistrate's orders were quashed.
The remarks, made on November 17, 2022 during the Bharat Jodo Yatra at a rally in Maharashtra's Akola district, allegedly called Savarkar a "servant of the British" who received a British pension.
The Lucknow Magistrate court summoned Gandhi on December 12, 2024; the Allahabad High Court refused to quash the summons on April 4, 2025, and on April 25, 2025 the Supreme Court stayed proceedings while cautioning him against remarks about freedom fighters.
Gandhi separately faces a defamation case in Maharashtra filed by Satyaki Savarkar, grand-nephew of V.D. Savarkar, over remarks made at a London event on March 5, 2023.
- Who
- Rahul Gandhi, a senior Congress leader and Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, against whom the complaint was filed; advocate Nripendra Pandey, who filed the complaint; and Justices Dipankar Datta and Sheel Nagu, who delivered the ruling.
- What
- The Supreme Court quashed the criminal defamation complaint and summons against Rahul Gandhi over his remarks about Vinayak Damodar Savarkar, citing the lack of prosecution sanction.
- Where
- India; the remarks were made at a rally in Maharashtra's Akola district, and the summons was issued by the Lucknow Magistrate court in Uttar Pradesh.
- When
- The ruling came on Friday; the remarks were made on November 17, 2022, the summons was issued on December 12, 2024, and the Supreme Court stayed the proceedings on April 25, 2025.
- Why
- The Uttar Pradesh government had not granted the sanction required under law to prosecute Gandhi in the case.
Procedural and defence position
Complainant and state position
Nature of the Savarkar remarks
Procedural and defence position
Gandhi contested the summons and proceedings up to the Supreme Court, disputing the defamation claim; his detailed defence is not quoted in the articles.
Complainant and state position
The complainant alleged the remarks were intended to spread hatred in society and were part of a well-planned conspiracy to defame Savarkar, and the Uttar Pradesh government called them a "deliberate spreading of hatred through pre-planned actions".
Requirement of prosecution sanction
Procedural and defence position
The Supreme Court held that without the Uttar Pradesh government's sanction, the complaint and the magistrate's orders could not stand and were quashed.
Complainant and state position
The Uttar Pradesh government argued the summoning order was valid, claiming it was passed after a detailed re-examination of the case file, statements and investigation report, and said the High Court's refusal to quash the summons was legally justified.
Key facts
- Case type
- Criminal defamation; summons invoked IPC Sections 153A and 505
- Accused
- Rahul Gandhi, Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha
- Complainant
- Advocate Nripendra Pandey
- Ruling bench
- Justices Dipankar Datta and Sheel Nagu
- Remarks in question
- November 17, 2022 Bharat Jodo Yatra rally in Akola, Maharashtra (one article cited a 2022 press conference), calling Savarkar a "servant of the British" who received a British pension
- Grounds for quashing
- Uttar Pradesh government's affidavit disclosed no prosecution sanction
- Key dates
- Summons Dec 12, 2024; High Court refusal Apr 4, 2025; Supreme Court stay Apr 25, 2025
- Related case
- Satyaki Savarkar's defamation complaint over Gandhi's March 5, 2023 London speech, pending in Maharashtra
Quotes
Bench of Justices Dipankar Datta and Sheel Nagu
Supreme Court Justices
“We have heard learned counsel for parties. In terms of the affidavit filed by the state of Uttar Pradesh, there is no disclosure of sanction having been granted. The orders passed by the learned magistrate… stand quashed.”
telegraphindia.com
“Maximum compensation may kindly be imposed upon the accused according to section 357 (Order to pay compensation) of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC).”
indianexpress.com
Supreme Court Bench of Justices Dipankar Datta and Sheel Nagu
Supreme Court Justices who ruled on the defamation case
“"Additional Solicitor General and advocate for complainant, in the affidavit filed by UP, submits there is no disclosure of sanction. In such view of the matter, the complaint and orders passed by magistrate stands quashed."”
theprint.in
telegraphindia.com
Sources
Rahul Gandhi defamation case for Savarkar comments cancelled by Supreme Court
SC Quashes Defamation Case Against Rahul Gandhi Over Savarkar Remarks
SC quashes defamation complaint against Rahul over remarks on Savarkar
SC quashes Rahul Gandhi's Savarkar defamation case, cites missing sanction
SC quashes criminal defamation complaint, summons against Rahul Gandhi for remarks against Savarkar
Rahul Gandhi gets Supreme Court relief as court quashes Savarkar remarks case - Telegraph India
SC quashes defamation complaint against Rahul Gandhi for remarks about VD Savarkar
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