Dadar Professor Files Plea to Limit Rahul Gandhi Defamation Case to Legal Merits
A 66-year-old professor from Dadar has filed an intervention application before the Chief Judicial Magistrate Court in Pune, urging the court to prevent a criminal defamation case against Congress leader Rahul Gandhi from turning into a political debate over Veer Savarkar's historical legacy.
Dr. Pankaj K. Phadnis submitted the application in connection with the ongoing defamation lawsuit filed by Satyaki Savarkar, the grandnephew of Veer Savarkar, against Gandhi. Through the filing, Phadnis requested that the court confine the proceedings strictly to the allegations in the complaint.
In his application, Phadnis sought directions to ensure all parties refrain from converting the judicial proceedings into a political platform. He requested the deletion of all questions, answers, observations, and materials from the record that travel beyond the court's jurisdiction. Alternatively, he requested that documentary material annexed to his application regarding Veer Savarkar be taken on record.
Phadnis urged the court to direct both the complainant and the respondent not to raise irrelevant historical issues, including Savarkar's "mercy petition." To support his contentions, Phadnis placed on record documents detailing Savarkar's contributions to India's freedom struggle, including a letter by former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi describing Savarkar as a "remarkable son of India." He also requested permission to screen a Films Division of India documentary released during Savarkar's birth centenary.
According to Phadnis's affidavit, the trial court's jurisdiction is limited to determining whether the statements attributed to Gandhi constitute criminal defamation under admissible evidence. He argued the court is not required to adjudicate historical or political issues regarding Savarkar's role or compare him to other freedom fighters like Bhagat Singh.
Phadnis noted that court proceedings held on July 1 and July 7, 2026, alongside subsequent media reports, indicated the case was increasingly centering on Savarkar's role in the freedom struggle. He argued these discussions amounted to holding a trial in absentia for Savarkar, who passed away in 1966.
The defamation case originates from remarks Gandhi allegedly made in March 2023, in which he referred to Savarkar as a collaborator with the British and referenced his "mercy petitions." Satyaki Savarkar subsequently filed the complaint under Sections 499 and 500 of the Indian Penal Code, claiming the remarks tarnished Savarkar's reputation.
