New Delhi, Aug 14 (PTI) The Supreme Court on Friday quashed the criminal defamation complaint and summons issued against Congress leader Rahul Gandhi over his remarks about Vinayak Damodar Savarkar, saying the required sanction was not obtained.
A bench of Justices Dipankar Datta and Sheel Nagu passed the order after the Uttar Pradesh government disclosed that there was no record of the required sanction 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 relates to comments Rahul made about Savarkar on November 17, 2022, during his Bharat Jodo Yatra at a rally in Maharashtra’s Akola district.
Rahul, who is the Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, had challenged a subordinate court’s decision to summon him in the case and contested the proceedings against him.
The case was filed by advocate Nripendra Pandey, who accused Rahul of intentionally insulting Savarkar during the rally. The complainant alleged that Rahul’s remarks were part of a well-planned conspiracy to defame Savarkar.
The Lucknow bench of the Allahabad High Court had on April 4, 2025 said Rahul could file a revision petition before the sessions court, making the high court’s intervention unnecessary at that stage.
