Supreme Court Overturns Complaint Against Rahul Gandhi
The Supreme Court of India has dismissed a criminal complaint against Congress leader Rahul Gandhi concerning his remarks about Hindutva ideologue Vinayak Damodar Savarkar. Gandhi had described Savarkar as a collaborator with the British, which led to a legal complaint filed against him. A magistrate in Uttar Pradesh subsequently issued a summons for Gandhi to appear in court.
Gandhi, seeking relief from these proceedings, petitioned the Supreme Court to quash the summons. The Bench, comprising Justices Dipankar Datta and Sheel Nagu, ruled in favor of Gandhi, citing a lack of necessary legal sanction for prosecution in this particular case.
“We have considered the arguments presented by the counsel for both parties. The affidavit from the State of Uttar Pradesh does not indicate that the required sanction was granted. Consequently, the orders issued by the Magistrate are hereby quashed,” the Court stated. A detailed ruling is expected soon.
Background of the Case
The complaint against Gandhi was initiated by advocate Nripendra Pandey, who alleged that Gandhi’s remarks during the Bharat Jodo Yatra on November 17, 2022, were intended to incite societal discord. Gandhi was charged under Sections 153A (promoting enmity) and 505 (public mischief) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).
Initially, Pandey’s complaint was dismissed by an Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate (ACJM). However, Pandey appealed this decision, and a sessions court remanded the case back to the magistrate court, resulting in a summons issued to Gandhi by a Lucknow magistrate in December 2024. The magistrate court found a prima facie case against Gandhi, noting that his comments about Savarkar being a British servant who received a pension spread hatred.
More Read
Judicial Proceedings and Supreme Court Ruling
In April 2025, the Allahabad High Court denied relief to Gandhi, advising him to approach the sessions judge for review instead. This decision prompted Gandhi to escalate the matter to the Supreme Court.
The Supreme Court had previously stayed the summons against Gandhi but expressed disapproval of his comments, warning that any future similar statements would prompt suo motu action by the Court. The Bench emphasized the importance of respecting freedom fighters, noting that Gandhi’s late grandmother and former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi had previously praised Savarkar.
The Supreme Court’s decision to quash the proceedings against Gandhi was ultimately influenced by the absence of the requisite legal sanction to proceed with the charges.
