MUMBAI — The Supreme Court delivered a stinging rebuke to Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on April 25, refusing to quash a defamation case tied to his remarks about freedom fighter Veer Savarkar. Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis didn’t hold back, seizing the moment to slam Gandhi for what he called reckless talk that landed him in hot water.
The case stems from a 2023 complaint filed by Satyaki Savarkar, a relative of the late revolutionary, who accused Gandhi of making baseless claims about Veer Savarkar’s role in India’s independence struggle. Gandhi’s statements, made during a public address in London, painted Savarkar as a British loyalist, sparking outrage among those who revere the Hindutva icon. The complainant argued the remarks were not just false but defamatory, tarnishing a national hero’s legacy.
On April 25, the Supreme Court bench, led by Justices Vikram Nath and PB Varale, made it clear they weren’t buying Gandhi’s plea to dismiss the case. The court’s order was blunt: the remarks were serious enough to warrant a trial. It upheld the Bombay High Court’s earlier decision, which had also refused to intervene, noting that Gandhi’s comments raised questions about his intent and responsibility as a public figure.
Fadnavis, speaking to reporters in Mumbai the same day, didn’t mince words. “When you make such irresponsible statements, you end up with such strictures,” he said, his voice carrying the weight of a politician who’s seen his share of courtroom dramas. He called the court’s ruling a “tight slap” to Gandhi, accusing him of a pattern of insulting India’s freedom fighters and constitutional institutions. The chief minister’s remarks came amid a charged political climate, with elections looming and tensions between the BJP and Congress running high.
The defamation case isn’t Gandhi’s only legal headache. He’s faced scrutiny before for comments made abroad, including a recent flap over his criticism of India’s Election Commission during a U.S. visit in April. On April 21, Fadnavis had already taken aim at Gandhi for those remarks, accusing him of spreading falsehoods about India’s democratic framework. The chief minister’s latest broadside ties the two incidents together, painting Gandhi as a leader prone to careless rhetoric that invites judicial pushback.
Gandhi’s legal team argued before the Supreme Court that the remarks were political speech, protected under free expression. They also claimed the complainant lacked standing, as he wasn’t directly harmed by the statements. The justices weren’t swayed, pointing to the potential public impact of such claims about a historical figure like Savarkar, whose legacy remains a flashpoint in India’s ideological battles.
The trial will now proceed in a Pune court, where Gandhi faces charges under Section 500 of the Indian Penal Code for criminal defamation. If convicted, he could face up to two years in prison or a fine, though such cases often end in penalties rather than jail time. The Congress leader has not publicly commented on the Supreme Court’s decision, leaving his party to navigate the fallout as the BJP amplifies the issue ahead of key polls.
For now, the case is a stark reminder of the legal tightrope public figures walk in India, where words can spark lawsuits as fast as they ignite headlines. Fadnavis, never one to shy from a fight, made sure to drive that point home. The courtroom saga rolls on, with Gandhi’s next move anyone’s guess.