Allahabad High Court Rejects Rahul Gandhi’s Plea in Savarkar Defamation Case

Petition to Quash Summons and Proceedings Dismissed

On Friday, the Allahabad High Court’s Lucknow bench dismissed a petition filed by Rahul Gandhi. He sought to quash summons and proceedings in a defamation case linked to his alleged hate speech about Savarkar.

Case Background

• The case began with Rahul Gandhi’s 2022 comment in Maharashtra, where he called Savarkar a “servant of British” who “received a pension from them.”
• On March 5, 2025, the Lucknow court fined Rahul Gandhi Rs 200 for missing a hearing.

Rahul Gandhi’s Petition and Court’s Ruling

Rahul Gandhi’s petition, filed under section 482 CrPC, challenged two court orders summoning him under IPC sections 153-A (promoting enmity) and 505 (public mischief). Justice Subhash Vidyarthi dismissed the petition, stating that Rahul Gandhi could seek criminal revision under sections 397/399 CrPC.

Initial Complaint and its Revival

• Advocate Nripendra Pandey first filed a complaint, which was dismissed on June 14, 2023.
• The MP/MLA court allowed a revision, reviving the complaint.

Statement from Rahul Gandhi’s Counsel

According to Rahul Gandhi’s counsel, the High Court did not delve into the case’s merits.