SC quashes defamation case against Rahul Gandhi over Savarkar

Delhi: The Supreme Court on Friday quashed a criminal defamation complaint and the summons issued against Congress leader Rahul Gandhi over his remarks about Vinayak Damodar Savarkar.

A bench of Justices Dipankar Datta and Sheel Nagu held that the required sanction had not been obtained in the case. The court said there was no disclosure of the necessary sanction in the affidavit filed by Uttar Pradesh.

"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," the bench said.

The case relates to remarks made by Gandhi on November 17, 2022, during his Bharat Jodo Yatra at a rally in Maharashtra's Akola district.

Gandhi, who is the Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, had challenged the decision of a subordinate court to summon him in the defamation case and contested the proceedings against him.

The complaint was filed by advocate Nripendra Pandey, who accused Gandhi of intentionally insulting Savarkar through his remarks. Pandey alleged that Gandhi's comments were part of a "well-planned conspiracy" to defame Savarkar.

The Lucknow bench of the Allahabad High Court, on April 4, 2025, had said Gandhi could approach the sessions court with a revision petition, holding that intervention by the high court was not required at that stage.

With PTI inputs