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News18
13-08-2025
- Politics
- News18
Rahul Gandhi Claims Life Threat During Savarkar Defamation Case Hearing, Seeks 'Preventive Protection'
Last Updated: Rahul Gandhi told a Pune Court of a life threat due to his political battles and the lineage of complainant Satyaki Savarkar in a defamation case, citing threats from BJP MPs. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday informed a Pune Court that he faces a threat to life, given his recent political battles and the lineage of complainant Satyaki Savarkar in the defamation case against him. The Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition made the claim in an application before the special court for cases against MPs and MLAs during the hearing of a defamation case filed by Satyaki Savarkar, grand-nephew of Vinayak Damodar Savarkar, against the Congress leader, news agency PTI reported. The case, the trial of which is yet to start, pertains to certain comments allegedly made by Rahul Gandhi against V D Savarkar, freedom fighter and Hindutva ideologue. Gandhi alleged that some BJP MPs threatened him that he would 'meet the same fate" as his grandmother, former prime minister Indira Gandhi, for his remarks against Vinayak Damodar Savarkar. The application — filed before Judicial Magistrate (First Class) Amol Shinde by Gandhi's lawyer Adv Milind Pawar — said that complainant Satyaki Savarkar had admitted that he is also a direct descendant, through maternal lineage, of Nathuram Godse and Gopal Godse, principal accused in the assassination of Mahatma Gandhi. 'For the past 15 days, our client Rahul Gandhi has been leading a protest against the Election Commission. While this agitation was ongoing during the parliament session, there was a verbal exchange between the Prime Minister and Rahul Gandhi over the word 'Hindutva' – all of which is on record," the Congress MP's lawyer said. Gandhi is the Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha and recently held a press conference in New Delhi, placing before the nation evidence of electoral fraud by the Election Commission, the application said. 'In light of the documented history of violent and anti-constitutional tendencies linked to the complainant's lineage, and considering the prevailing political climate, there exists a clear, reasonable, and substantial apprehension that Rahul Gandhi may face harm, wrongful implication, or other forms of targeting by persons subscribing to the ideology of Vinayak Damodar Savarkar," the application stated. The court has already granted bail to Gandhi in the case. Reacting to the plea, Satyaki Savarkar said it was frivolous, and filed with the intention of delaying the trial. "The facts mentioned in the application by Gandhi have nothing to do with the present case," he told reporters. Satyaki Savarkar has filed a complaint against Gandhi, alleging that in a speech made in London in March 2023, the Congress leader claimed that V D Savarkar had written in a book that he and five to six of his friends once beat up a Muslim man and he (Savarkar) felt happy. She disputed the existence of such an account in Savarkar's published works and moved the Court contending the remarks were false, misleading and defamatory. She has sought Gandhi's conviction under Section 500 IPC and compensation under Section 357 CrPC. view comments Location : Pune, India, India First Published: August 13, 2025, 19:13 IST News india Rahul Gandhi Claims Life Threat During Savarkar Defamation Case Hearing, Seeks 'Preventive Protection' Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Hindustan Times
10-07-2025
- Hindustan Times
Porsche crash: Prosecution claim attempts to tamper with blood samples made at 2 hospitals
The prosecution in the Pune Porsche crash case on Tuesday alleged that attempts to tamper with the blood samples of the minor accused were made not only at Sassoon General Hospital but also at the district hospital in Aundh. The incident occurred on May 19, 2024, when a Porsche, allegedly driven by a 17-year-old in an inebriated state, fatally knocked down two IT professionals, Anish Awadhiya and Ashwini Koshta, in the Kalyani Nagar area. (FILE PHOTO) The allegation was made before the Pune Court on Tuesday through documents submitted under Section 173(8) of the Criminal Procedure Code, which permits further investigation even after a charge sheet has been filed. The incident occurred on May 19, 2024, when a Porsche, allegedly driven by a 17-year-old in an inebriated state, fatally knocked down two IT professionals, Anish Awadhiya and Ashwini Koshta, in the Kalyani Nagar area. Following the crash, the minor's blood samples were initially collected at Sassoon Hospital, but investigations later revealed they had been swapped with those of his mother in an alleged attempt to conceal his intoxication. The police then took a second set of samples at Aundh Government Hospital as a precautionary measure after suspecting tampering attempts. The prosecution claimed that after the accused, particularly the juvenile's parents, and associates came to know of the second collection, they attempted to influence the staff at Aundh hospital to swap the new samples as well. However, doctors at the facility refused to cooperate with them and turned them away. To support their claim, the prosecution submitted statements of the medical staff at Aundh hospital to the court. 'In the same manner in which they tampered with blood samples at Sassoon Hospital, the parents of the juvenile and a middleman, Ashpak Makandar, tried to do the same at the Aundh hospital. But doctors refused to entertain them,' said a crime branch officer involved in the investigation. According to the prosecution, the accused allegedly bribed Dr Shrihari Halnor, then chief medical officer of Sassoon's Emergency department and Dr Ajay Taware, former head of the Forensic Medicine department, to swap the blood samples. A total of 10 accused, including three Sassoon staffers, are currently in custody. The court is now hearing arguments related to the framing of charges. On Tuesday, defence lawyers Sudeep Pasbola, Hrishikesh Ganu and Rajesh Kale argued that the sections under the Prevention of Corruption Act and those related to forgery do not apply to their clients. They also claimed that the allegations under Section 109 of the IPC, pertaining to abetment, are not substantiated. Meanwhile, the father of the minor accused has filed a bail application citing his mother's ill health. The prosecution, however, alleged that the accused is deliberately delaying proceedings by filing 'frivolous' applications. The next hearing in the case is scheduled for July 11.
