A court in Pune dealing with cases involving Members of Parliament and Legislative Assembly concluded the chief examination of Satyaki Savarkar on Tuesday. Savarkar, the grandnephew of Hindutva ideologue Vinayak Damodar Savarkar, has filed a defamation case against senior Congress leader Rahul Gandhi.
Court Proceedings and Key Objections
The legal action stems from remarks allegedly made by Gandhi during a speech in London in March 2023. The court session, which extended for over five hours, saw a significant objection raised by Gandhi's legal counsel, Milind Pawar. Pawar objected to the playing of a pen drive containing a link to the contentious speech in open court.
However, the court overruled this objection. The bench clarified that there was no necessity for a separate application since it had already admitted the pen drive as evidence in the case.
Focus on Speech Contents and Reputational Damage
The examination primarily centered on the contents of Rahul Gandhi's London address and the alleged harm caused to the reputation of Vinayak Damodar Savarkar. Satyaki Savarkar informed the court that in his speech, which is under legal challenge, Gandhi claimed that certain disputed assertions were part of a book authored by the Hindutva thinker.
To counter this, Satyaki presented the court with a list of 29 books written by Savarkar. He emphasized that his defamation complaint was specifically tied to the single incident referenced by Gandhi in his speech. According to Satyaki, this particular incident is not documented in any biography of Savarkar.
Plaintiff's Stand and Social Backlash
Asserting his right to seek legal recourse, Satyaki Savarkar stated, "I am a descendant of Savarkar and have the right to file the complaint." He detailed the personal impact of the speech, telling the court that he faced considerable criticism on social media platforms following Gandhi's comments.
He also received numerous emails, letters, and requests for explanations. "I was asked many questions about the role of Savarkar," he recounted, highlighting the direct consequences he experienced.
The defence lawyer's cross-examination of Satyaki Savarkar has been postponed and is now scheduled for January 13. The case continues to draw significant attention due to the historical figure involved and the stature of the accused political leader.
