The Court observed that Gandhi’s speech and pamphlets, alleging Savarkar was a British servant who received a pension, spread hatred in society.
A court in Uttar Pradesh’s Lucknow has summoned Congress leader Rahul Gandhi in a complaint filed over allegedly derogatory remarks against VD Savarkar during his Bharat Jodo rally in Maharashtra last year.
Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate Alok Verma observed that Gandhi’s speech and pamphlets, alleging Savarkar was a British servant who received a pension, spread hatred and ill-will in society.
The Court further found a prima facie case against Gandhi was made out and thereby summoned him and directed him to appear before the Court on January 10, 2025.
Gandhi will face charges under Sections 153A (promoting enmity) and 505 (public mischief) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).
The Court was hearing a plea filed by advocate Nripendra Pandey.
Pandey had initially approached an Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate (ACJM) with an application to register a first information report (FIR) against Gandhi for his remarks on Savarkar.
Pandey raised grievance over remarks allegedly made by Rahul Gandhi on November 17 last year when her referred to Savarkar as a collaborator with the British and further stated that Sarvarkar received pension from the British.
Pandey asserted that these remarks were made with the intent of inciting hatred in society.
The complaint by Pandey also asserted that Mahatma Gandhi had previously recognized Savarkar as a patriot.
Source : https://www.barandbench.com/news/lucknow-court-summons-rahul-gandhi-remarks-vd-savarkar
