SC calls Rahul Gandhi’s statement on Savarkar ‘irresponsible’, but stays summons against him

On Friday, the Supreme Court strongly criticized Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi for his remarks calling Vinayak Damodar Savarkar a ‘collaborator with the British’ who ‘received a pension’ from them, as per reports.

The court reportedly called the statement “irresponsible” and warned that suo motu action would be initiated if similar comments are made in the future.

A bench comprising Justices Dipankar Datta and Manmohan  stayed the summons issued to Gandhi by a Lucknow Magistrate Court in a criminal case related to his controversial remarks about Savarkar, as per reports.

While granting the stay, the bench also reportedly pointed out that Rahul Gandhi’s grandmother, former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, had once written to Savarkar, praising him. The court emphasized the importance of being cautious while making statements about historical figures.

The case stems from a plea challenging an Allahabad High Court order, which had refused to quash the summons issued by the magistrate court.

Earlier, Justice Subhash Vidyarthi of the High Court had declined to entertain Gandhi’s plea, observing that he could approach the Sessions Court under Section 397 of the Criminal Procedure Code instead of going directly to the High Court.

The summons had been issued by a Lucknow magistrate on December 12, 2024, based on a complaint filed by advocate Nripendra Pandey.

The complaint was related to a statement made by Gandhi during his Bharat Jodo Yatra on November 17, 2022, in which he allegedly called Savarkar a British collaborator who received pension from the British government.

Pandey argued that Gandhi’s remarks were made with the intent to spread hatred and disturb social harmony. He also claimed that Mahatma Gandhi had once referred to Savarkar as a patriot.