Key Points
- Rahul Gandhi moved a Pune special MP/MLA court claiming a “clear, reasonable and substantial” threat to his life amid the Savarkar defamation proceedings.
- Application cites complainant Satyaki Savarkar’s admitted lineage to Nathuram and Gopal Godse and claims risk from “persons subscribing to Savarkar’s ideology.”
- Gandhi points to recent political flashpoints his “Vote Chor Sarkar” slogan and speeches as escalating hostility from rivals.
- Names two “public threats”: Union minister Ravneet Singh Bittu calling him “number one terrorist” and BJP leader Tarvinder Singh Marwah’s remark invoking Indira Gandhi’s assassination.
- Court is hearing a criminal defamation case over Gandhi’s London-2023 comments on Savarkar; next hearing listed for September 10.
Pune: In a written application, Rahul Gandhi said there exists a “clear, reasonable, and substantial apprehension” of harm, wrongful implication, or other targeting linked to the complainant’s lineage and the prevailing political climate, urging the court to take judicial notice and for the State to provide “preventive protection.” The plea argues the assassination of Mahatma Gandhi was the outcome of a conspiracy rooted in an ideology and that “history must not be permitted to repeat itself.”
Why He Says Threat Has Intensified
Gandhi’s filing references his recent interventions including the “Vote Chor Sarkar” slogan in Parliament and submissions alleging electoral irregularities which he says have triggered hostility among political opponents, alongside reactions to his remark that “a true Hindu is never violent.” He cites two public statements: Ravneet Singh Bittu allegedly branding him the “number one terrorist of the country,” and Tarvinder Singh Marwah warning he could meet the fate of his grandmother if he didn’t “behave.”
The Case: What Sparked the Defamation Complaint
The defamation case stems from Gandhi’s March 2023 speech in London referencing an episode he attributed to Savarkar’s writings; complainant Satyaki Savarkar disputes such an account exists and seeks conviction under Section 500 IPC and compensation under Section 357 CrPC. The court has set the next hearing for September 10.
Complainant’s Side: “Irrelevant, Delaying Tactic”
Satyaki Savarkar has argued that Rahul Gandhi’s application is irrelevant to the case and amounts to delay, underscoring that the court has already said Gandhi’s personal presence isn’t mandatory for routine hearings.
The “Public Threats” Cited: What’s on Record
Congress leaders previously filed police complaints over remarks by Ravneet Singh Bittu and Tarvinder Singh Marwah, among others, documenting Bittu’s “number one terrorist” label and Marwah’s comment invoking Indira Gandhi’s assassination; those complaints were acknowledged publicly last year.
What Happens Next
- The Pune special court continues with the defamation proceedings; Gandhi’s application asks the court to formally note security risks and for the State to ensure preventive protection.
- The matter returns on September 10, when the court could address case progress alongside any submissions regarding Gandhi’s security plea.
