‘Savarkar Condemned Mahatma Gandhi's Assassination’: Hindutva Ideologue's Kin In Court During Rahul Gandhi Defamation Trial

News india ‘Savarkar Condemned Mahatma Gandhi’s Assassination’: Hindutva Ideologue's Kin In Court During Rahul Gandhi Defamation Trial

Last Updated:October 24, 2026, 18:46 IST

Grandnephew Satyaki affirmed that Savarkar disapproved of political violence and publicly denounced the 1948 killing of Mahatma Gandhi

In a key development during cross-examination before a special Pune court, Satyaki Savarkar, the grandnephew of Hindutva progenitor Vinayak Damodar Savarkar, testified that his granduncle had unequivocally condemned the assassination of Mahatma Gandhi. The testimony was delivered as part of an ongoing criminal defamation trial initiated against Congress leader Rahul Gandhi over remarks made during an address in London.

Responding to defence queries, Satyaki affirmed that Savarkar disapproved of political violence and publicly denounced the 1948 murder of Mahatma Gandhi.

Core Allegations Behind the Criminal Defamation Complaint

The legal battle stems from a complaint filed by Satyaki Savarkar in April 2023. The complainant alleged that Rahul Gandhi made false, malicious, and defamatory claims during a public event in the United Kingdom, asserting that Savarkar had written in a book about an incident where he and his associates assaulted a Muslim man and felt pleasure from the act.

Satyaki maintained before the magistrate that no such book or passage exists, accusing the Congress leader of fabricating anecdotes to tarnish his granduncle’s historical standing and provoke communal disharmony.

Defence Strategy and Scope of Inquiry

During the cross-examination, defence counsel pressed the complainant on various historical texts, Savarkar’s mercy petitions to the British administration, and the political background of the family tree. Satyaki clarified that the legal proceedings were initiated strictly to address character assassination rather than to advance any partisan or ideological agenda.

Earlier police inquiries directed by the court validated that the statements under review caused harm to the late leader’s reputation. Rahul Gandhi, who previously pleaded not guilty, continues to contest the proceedings through his legal team as the special court records testimony.

About the Author

Pathikrit Sen Gupta

Pathikrit Sen Gupta is a Senior Associate Editor with News18.com and likes to cut a long story short. He writes sporadically on Politics, Sports, Global Affairs, Space, Entertainment, And Food. He tra...Read More

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