Rahul Gandhi seeks time to reply on plea demanding book quoted by him for ‘defaming' Savarkar
A court in Pune on Thursday granted more time to Congress leader Rahul Gandhi to file his reply on an application seeking a copy of the book quoted by him while making an alleged defamatory statement against freedom fighter V D Savarkar during his speech in London.
Gandhi is likely to submit his 'say' through his lawyer Milind Pawar to special judge Amol Shinde of the MP/MLA court in Pune, during the next hearing of the defamation case scheduled on July 3.
Satyaki Savarkar had filed the defamation complaint against Gandhi for his alleged objectionable remarks against freedom fighter and Hindutva ideologue V D Savarkar, during a speech in London on March 5, 2023.
Satyaki is the grandnephew of V D Savarkar. According to Satyaki, Gandhi had said in his speech that Savarkar wrote a book in which he stated that he and five to six of his friends beat up a Muslim and were 'delighted' about it. Satyaki said V D Savarkar had not written any such book as claimed by Gandhi, nor has such an incident ever happened.
Earlier, Rahul's lawyer Milind Pawar had filed an application before the court seeking an English translation of the book 'Mazi Janmathep' authored by V D Savarkar, another book 'Hindutva' also authored by him, and the family tree of Satyaki Savarkar. Satyaki's lawyer Sangram Kolhatkar provided the same to advocate Pawar in the court.
Last month, Satyaki filed an application before the court through advocate Kolhatkar, seeking directions for Gandhi to produce the book allegedly written by V D Savarkar, which was cited by him in his alleged defamatory statement. 'The above-mentioned book is necessary for a fair trial. Previously, this court had granted permission to the accused to obtain the book titled 'Hindutva' written by Veer Savarkar from the complainant. Hence, on the same grounds and principles, the complainant too should be granted the same relief in the interest of justice and fair trial,' the application stated.
The court had asked advocate Pawar to file a 'say' on this application on behalf of Gandhi. But on Thursday, Pawar filed another application seeking more time for filing the 'say'. Pawar submitted in his plea that Gandhi is holding a constitutional post (Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha) and is occupied with official duties and public responsibilities of utmost importance.
It further stated that 'due to certain unavoidable and unforeseen circumstances, the defence is unable to file say/reply on the said application….' Pawar sought reasonable time from the court to file a detailed reply to Satyaki's application. The court allowed Pawar's plea and kept the matter for hearing on July 3.
During the last hearing, the court had rejected an application filed by Gandhi seeking the maternal family tree of Satyaki. Satyaki's mother Himani Ashok Savarkar is the daughter of Gopal Godse, the younger brother of Nathuram Godse, Mahatma Gandhi's assassin.
Rejecting Gandhi's plea, the court had observed that Satyaki is the grandson of one of the brothers of late V D Savarkar and the said case is not related to the family tree of his mother Himani Savarkar.
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