Defamation case against Rahul Gandhi for Savarkar comments cancelled by Supreme Court, no clearance from UP

The Supreme Court has provided significant relief to Lok Sabha Opposition leader Rahul Gandhi by quashing a defamation complaint against him. The case stemmed from remarks Gandhi made about Hindutva ideologue V.D. Savarkar during the Bharat Jodo Yatra. The court's decision hinges on the procedural lapse by the Uttar Pradesh government, which failed to obtain the legally required sanction to prosecute Gandhi.

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The court noted that the Uttar Pradesh government had not granted the sanction required under law to prosecute him in the case.

This development follows a complaint filed in 2023 by Satyaki Savarkar, the grandnephew of V.D. Savarkar. Satyaki alleged that Rahul Gandhi defamed his ancestor during a speech in London on March 5, 2023. To support his claim, Satyaki submitted news reports, a YouTube link, and a CD containing video evidence of Gandhi's speech. However, a crucial piece of evidence, the CD, was found to be blank when played during Satyaki's chief examination last November, undermining the complaint's foundation.

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In a complaint in 2023, Satyaki Savarkar, grandnephew of Hindutva ideologue V D Savarkar, had alleged that Rahul Gandhi made defamatory remarks against V D Savarkar during a speech in London on March 5, 2023.

The Supreme Court's intervention highlights the importance of due process in criminal defamation cases. By noting the absence of sanction from the Uttar Pradesh government, the court effectively nullified the prosecution's ability to proceed. This ruling offers Gandhi a reprieve from the legal challenge, emphasizing that legal proceedings must adhere strictly to established procedures and evidentiary standards.

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But when the CD was played during Satyaki’s chief examination in November last year, it was found to be blank.