Top Court Cancels Hate Speech Case Against Rahul Gandhi Over Savarkar Remarks

The Supreme Court on Friday quashed the criminal defamation complaint and summon issued by a trial court against Rahul Gandhi for his remarks against Vinayak Damodar Savarkar during his Bharat Jodo Yatra four years ago.

A bench of Justices Dipankar Datta and Sheel Nagu said the required sanction was not obtained in the matter.

"Additional Solicitor General and advocate for complainant, in the affidavit filed by UP, submits there is no disclosure of sanction. In such view of the matter, the complaint and orders passed by magistrate stands quashed," the bench said.

The defamation case stems from Gandhi's, the Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, comments on Savarkar made on November 17, 2022 during his Bharat Jodo Yatra at a rally in Maharashtra's Akola district.

The Lucknow bench of the high court on April 4, 2025 said the 56-year-old Congress leader can file a revision petition before the sessions court, making the high court's intervention unnecessary at this stage.

Gandhi had challenged a subordinate court's decision to summon him in the case, while contesting the ongoing proceedings against him.

Petitioner, Nripendra Pandey, a lawyer, filed a complaint, accusing Gandhi of intentionally insulting Savarkar during the rally.

The complainant alleged Gandhi's remarks were part of a well-planned conspiracy to defame Savarkar.