A Lucknow court on Wednesday imposed a ₹200 cost on Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi for failing to appear in a 2022 defamation case related to his alleged derogatory remarks about freedom fighter Vinayak Damodar Savarkar.
Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate Alok Verma had earlier directed Gandhi to appear in court on March 6. However, his legal team submitted an application seeking an exemption, citing his official engagements, including meetings with foreign dignitaries and other scheduled programs.
The court imposed a ₹200 penalty, directing that the amount be paid to the complainant’s lawyer. The next hearing is scheduled for April 14.
The case originated from Gandhi’s remarks on Savarkar made during his Bharat Jodo Yatra rally in Maharashtra’s Akola district on November 17, 2022. Advocate Nripendra Pandey filed the complaint, accusing Gandhi of deliberately insulting Savarkar. The complainant further alleged that the remarks were part of a calculated effort to defame Savarkar and were widely broadcast across the media.
While Gandhi’s legal team maintains that his absence was due to unavoidable political responsibilities, the case continues to stir political tensions, reigniting the long-standing controversy over Savarkar’s legacy in Indian politics.
