The Pune Magistrate Court has warned Congress leader Rahul Gandhi against making remarks on court orders he has not contested in the Savarkar defamation case. The court insisted he must either accept the summons or legally challenge it.
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PUNE: In a recent development, a Pune Magistrate court has directed Congress leader Rahul Gandhi to avoid making public or written remarks on court orders that he has not legally contested. Magistrate Amol Shinde issued the directive during a hearing in the ongoing criminal defamation case filed against Gandhi by Satyaki Savarkar, grandnephew of Hindutva figure Vinayak Damodar Savarkar.
The court emphasized that Gandhi must either accept the summons order issued against him or challenge it through proper legal channels, noting that he cannot critique an order that remains uncontested.
“If the accused has any grievance against the issuance of the summons order, he should challenge it before the appropriate court… the accused shall not make any comment on any order which has become final or remains unchallenged,”
Magistrate Shinde stated.
Background
The case originates from Gandhi’s alleged defamatory remarks against Savarkar during a public speech. After reviewing the evidence, the court issued a process order and summons to Gandhi.
During a recent hearing, a sealed CD containing video footage of Gandhi’s speech, previously verified by the court, was found to be blank when played in court. This prompted Satyaki Savarkar’s counsel, Sangram Kolhatkar, to:
- Seek an adjournment
- Demand a judicial probe to determine how the CD became empty
Gandhi’s lawyer, Milind Pawar, opposed the adjournment request and submitted a written reply that sparked further controversy.
Objection to Gandhi’s Written Remarks
Kolhatkar accused Gandhi of making serious allegations against the complainant and the court, claiming that the remarks implied Savarkar had manipulated the system to secure the summons.
He argued that the statements amounted to:
- Mudslinging on the complainant’s conduct
- Casting doubt on the impartiality of the judicial process
Kolhatkar requested the court to seek clarification from Gandhi on two contentious paragraphs in his November 27 application.
Pawar countered that:
- There is no provision requiring an accused to explain such statements
- The application was a delaying tactic
- Higher courts have urged fast-track handling of cases involving MPs and MLAs
ALSO READ: Rahul Gandhi Defamation Case Delayed Again as Key Witness Skips Court Hearing in UP
Court’s Decision
After considering arguments from both sides, the court dismissed Savarkar’s application while issuing a clear directive to Gandhi:
- He must either contest the summons order or accept it
- He cannot publicly comment on an order he has not challenged
The case will continue to move forward under expedited proceedings.
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