Latest news with #Savarkar
Time of India
5 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Supreme Court extends stay on summons against Rahul Gandhi
(You can now subscribe to our (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel New Delhi: The Uttar Pradesh government has accused Lok Sabha leader of Opposition (LoP) Rahul Gandhi of deliberately indulging in "spread of hatred and enmity within the society through pre-planned actions". This has been submitted by the Yogi Adityanath-led UP government in the Supreme Court opposing a plea filed by Gandhi seeking quashing of summons issued to him by a Lucknow Magistrate for making alleged adverse remarks against Hindutva ideologue Vinayak Damodar Savarkar Urging the SC to dismiss Gandhi's plea, the UP government, in its response, submitted that the magistrate "properly applied judicial mind to facts and evidence, determining a prima facie case under Section 153-A and 505 IPC". The said summons were issued by a Lucknow Magistrate on December 12, the top court on Friday extended the stay of summons issued to Gandhi in a criminal case initiated against him for his remarks against Savarkar. A bench headed by Justice Dipankar Datta listed the case after four weeks after the complainant, Nripendra Pandey, a Lucknow resident, sought time to file his response to the plea filed by Gandhi. The SC in April this year had stayed the summons issued to Gandhi but took strong exception to his remarks that Savarkar was a "collaborator" with the British who received pension from them.A division bench comprising Justices Dipankar Datta and Manmohan had (in April) remarked that Gandhi's statements were "irresponsible". The bench had also warned that if Gandhi repeated similar remarks in the future, the bench will initiate suo motu action against him.
The Hindu
5 days ago
- Politics
- The Hindu
Supreme Court extends stay on summons to Rahul Gandhi in Savarkar case
The Supreme Court on Friday (July 25, 2025) extended the stay of summons issued to Congress party leader and leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi in a defamation case accusing him of making derogatory remarks against Hindutva ideologue V.D. Savarkar during his Bharat Jodo Yatra in Maharashtra last year. A Bench headed by Justices Dipankar Datta listed the case after four weeks, giving the complainant, Nripendra Pandey, a Lucknow resident, a fortnight's time to file his response to the challenge filed by Mr. Gandhi in the apex court. The Court had stayed an Uttar Pradesh trial court summons issued to the Congress leader in an order in May while cautioning him from making 'statements against our freedom fighters who gave us freedom'. 'This is not the way to treat our freedom fighters. They have given us freedom,' Justice Datta had said. The Judge had even asked what prompted Mr. Gandhi to make these statements in Maharashtra, where Savarkar was 'worshipped as God'. Referring to Mr. Gandhi's remarks that Savarkar addressed himself as 'most obedient servant' in a communication to the British authorities, Justice Datta had at the time asked Mr. Gandhi's lawyers whether 'your client knows that even Mahatma Gandhi used 'your faithful servant' while addressing the Viceroy? Does he know that his grandmother, while she was Prime Minister, sent a letter to somebody praising this gentleman, the freedom fighter?' Justice Datta said Mr. Gandhi had a 'good point in law' which would entitle him to an order of stay on the summons. In his petition, Mr. Gandhi said the freedom of expression was essential for a dignified life and guaranteed under Article 19(1)(a) of the Constitution. The Congress leader said the proceedings against him were 'clearly frivolous, vexatious and designed to inflict the criminal process as a virtual punishment to and deterrent for the free exercise of his freedoms and from freely performing his duty as a responsible Opposition political leader at the national level'. The trial court, while summoning Mr. Gandhi, had observed that he had spread hatred and ill-will in society through his speech in which he had said that Savarkar was a servant of the British and that he took a pension from the British. Mr. Gandhi was charged with offences under Section 153A (promoting enmity) and 505 (public mischief) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).
Hindustan Times
5 days ago
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Savarkar case: UP govt accuses Rahul Gandhi of deliberately spreading hatred
The Uttar Pradesh government has filed an affidavit in the Supreme Court accusing Congress leader Rahul Gandhi of deliberately spreading hatred by commenting against Hindutva Ideologue, Vinayak Damodar Savarkar, during his 2022 Bharat Jodo Yatra. The Supreme Court was due to take up the matter on Friday. (Getty Images/iStockphoto) The affidavit dated July 23, filed in response to a notice on Gandhi's plea to quash a Lucknow court summons over the comments, argued against any relief ahead of the hearing in the matter on Friday. It pleaded for the dismissal of Gandhi's plea. The affidavit said that allegations of promoting enmity and public mischief under the Indian Penal Code's sections 153A and 505 are applicable against Gandhi. It cited the investigation in the case and added that it indicated deliberate spreading of hatred through pre-planned actions. In April, the court slammed Gandhi for calling Savarkar a 'servant' of the British while staying the proceedings against him. The court noted the statement was made in Maharashtra, where Savarkar is 'worshipped as a God'. 'Let him not make any statements on freedom fighters without knowing any history or geography about it,' the court said. The court reminded Gandhi that his grandmother, Indira Gandhi, wrote a letter praising Savarkar when she was the Prime Minister. It referred to Mahatma Gandhi, who communicated to the British Viceroy, addressing himself as a faithful 'servant'. Rahul Gandhi referred to the pension Savarkar received from the British while calling him a 'servant of the British'. The court said that one does not become a servant just like that. 'One day, you will say that Gandhiji was also a servant of the British,' the court said. 'This is not the way you treat freedom fighters.' Senior advocate Abhishek Singhvi, who appeared for Rahul Gandhi, assured the court that no further statement shall be made. The court warned that if any further statement is made, it will take it up suo motu (on its own). 'We will not allow anybody to make any statement against freedom fighters.' Gandhi moved the top court against the Allahabad high court's April 4 order rejecting his plea for quashing the complaint against him. Nripendra Pandey, a lawyer, filed the complaint against Gandhi, saying his remarks against Savarkar hurt Hindu sentiments. He argued Gandhi insulted a leader who fought for India's freedom. The trial court, in its summons, observed Gandhi spread hatred and ill-will in society through his speech against Savarkar. The complaint against Gandhi was initially dismissed in June 2023. It was revived on a revision petition. Gandhi argued in the high court that the allegations against him do not amount to the offences he has been accused of.
The Hindu
6 days ago
- Politics
- The Hindu
The Hindu Morning Digest: July 25, 2025
France will recognise State of Palestine: Macron French President Emmanuel Macron announced on Thursday (July 24, 2025) that France will recognise Palestine as a state, amid snowballing global anger over people starving in Gaza. Home Minister to move statutory resolution in Parliament to extend President's Rule in Manipur Home Minister Amit Shah is likely to move a statutory resolution in the Rajya Sabha in the ongoing Monsoon Session of the Parliament to extend President's Rule in Manipur for another six months. Modi leaves for Maldives after concluding U.K. trip Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday (July 24, 2025) concluded his two-day visit to the U.K. during which the two countries inked a landmark free trade pact. Over 61 lakh voters may be out of Bihar's draft electoral roll, says ECI data on the eve of SIR deadline Over 61 lakh Bihar voters may not figure in the State's new draft electoral rolls, which are to be published on August 1. This includes seven lakh people who are yet to submit their enumeration forms under the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) process, a day ahead of the July 25 deadline, according to Election Commission of India data released on Thursday (July 24, 2025). There are also 21.6 lakh deceased electors, 31.5 lakh people who have permanently shifted out of the State, seven lakh who have enrolled at more than one place, and one lakh who are 'untraceable', the ECI said. Operation Sindoor fallout: Chinese-made surveillance gear banned, aerial monitoring boosted for Independence Day In the wake of Operation Sindoor, this year's Independence Day celebrations will feature enhanced aerial monitoring and a complete ban on the usage of 'Made In China' surveillance equipment in and around the Red Fort in the national capital. With Prime Minister Nadrendra Modi set to make his Independence Day address from the ramparts of Red Fort on August 15, the venue was taken over by the Ministry of Defence from July 15. This year, more guests are being invited to attended the Independence Day celebrations in comparison to previous years, sources said. Rahul Gandhi granted bail in Savarkar defamation case Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, leader of the opposition in the Lok Sabha, was granted bail on Thursday (July 24, 2025) in a private defamation case filed against him for comments on Hindutva ideologue V.D. Savarkar in 2022. Mr. Gandhi, who appeared before the court for 10 minutes via video conferencing, pleaded 'not guilty' to the defamation charges read out to him. His legal team thereafter moved for bail. India-U.K. trade deal: Agri exports to grow 20% in 3 years, other key sectors to benefit The government expects the India-U.K. Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) signed by the two countries on Thursday (July 24, 2025) to lead to substantial benefits for a variety of Indian export-oriented sectors such as agriculture, textiles, leather, chemicals, and engineering goods, according to officials aware of the calculations. Opposition to opt for consensus candidate in V-P election unlike 2022 The Election Commission is expected to notify the vice-presidential election any time soon, but the Opposition parties haven't begun a formal conversation on their position in the poll. However, there is an informal consensus building in the Opposition camp towards the idea that the mistakes made in the 2022 contest should not be repeated. Stop unlawful deportation of Bengali Muslims, Human Rights Watch tells government Criticising India's deportation of 'ethnic Bengali migrants' to Bangladesh, the Human Rights Watch on Thursday (July 24, 2025) said the exercise was being done 'without following due process'. Such acts done to 'garner political support' reflect the 'broader discriminatory policies against Muslims', it said in a statement. Assertions like 'J&K is illegally occupied', 'should separate from India' attract UAPA sections: J&K High Court The J&K High Court has observed that 'advocating and inciting unlawful activity by asserting that J&K is illegally occupied and must be separated from the Indian Union' attracts sections of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA). Mohan Bhagwat meets Muslims religious leaders in Delhi to promote dialogue between communities Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief Mohan Bhagwat held a closed-door meeting with Muslim religious leaders in Delhi on Thursday (July 24, 2025).
New Indian Express
6 days ago
- Politics
- New Indian Express
Nashik court grants bail to Rahul Gandhi in defamation case over remarks about Savarkar
MUMBAI: A court in Maharashtra's Nashik city on Thursday granted bail to Congress leader Rahul Gandhi in a defamation case filed against him for remarks about Hindutva ideologue V D Savarkar during the Bharat Jodo Yatra in 2022. Appearing through video link before additional chief judicial magistrate R C Narwadia, Gandhi, the leader of opposition in the Lok Sabha, pleaded `not guilty'. Nashik-resident Devendra Bhutada, through his lawyer Manoj Pingle, has filed the criminal defamation case under sections 500 (defamation) and 504 (intentional insult with intent to provoke breach of the peace) of the Indian Penal Code. After Gandhi pleaded not guilty, his lawyers sought bail. The court allowed the plea on a bond of Rs 15,000, said advocate Pingle. The complainant, director of an NGO, alleged that Gandhi, at a press conference in Hingoli and in a speech during his yatra in November 2022, made statements that harmed Savarkar's reputation. "The speech of the accused along with press statements try to ruin the reputation of the complainant's idol Swatantryaveer Savarkar and his contribution to the society along with his noble work in the pre-independence period," the complaint said. Gandhi said that "Savarkar prayed for release with folded hands and later on promised to work for the British government", it alleged. Gandhi is also facing a defamation case in Pune, filed by Savarkar's grandnephew, over his statements about the late Hindutva ideologue.
