News Brief
SC Pulls Up Rahul Gandhi Over Controversial Remarks On Veer Savarkar, Grants Relief But Issues Strong Caution
The Supreme Court of India.
The Supreme Court on Friday (25 April) issued a sharp rebuke to Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi over his controversial remarks on Vinayak Damodar Savarkar, cautioning him against making further irresponsible statements about India’s freedom fighters.
A Bench comprising Justices Dipankar Datta and Manmohan, while staying the criminal summons issued to Gandhi by a Magistrate court, warned that similar comments in the future would invite suo motu action.
“You have a good point on law and you will get a stay. But any further statement by him will be taken up suo motu. No words on our freedom fighters. They gave us freedom and we treat them like this? Issue notice. Stay on impugned order," the court directed, Bar and Bench reported.
While granting the stay, the Bench also highlighted that Gandhi's grandmother and former prime minister Indira Gandhi had written to Savarkar praising him.
Addressing senior advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi, who appeared on the Congress leader's behalf, the court said,"Does he (know) that even Mahatma Gandhi used the words 'your faithful servant'. Does he know his grandmother also sent a letter to the freedom fighter praising him? Let him not make irresponsible statements about freedom fighters. You cannot make such statements without knowing history or geography of freedom fighters".
The remarks prompted a complaint by advocate Nripendra Pandey, who accused Gandhi of promoting enmity and public mischief under Sections 153A and 505 of the Indian Penal Code.
Although the Lucknow Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate initially dismissed the complaint, the Sessions Court later revived the matter, leading to the Magistrate’s issuance of a summons on 12 December 2024.
Gandhi's challenge to this was rejected by the Allahabad High Court, which prompted his appeal to the Supreme Court.
