Defamation case | May face threat to life from followers of Savarkar, Godse's ideology: Rahul Gandhi tells court

Gandhi, who is facing a defamation case filed by Satyaki Savarkar, grand-nephew of Vinayak Damodar Savarkar, made the claim in an application before the special court for cases against MPs and MLAs here.

Mumbai: Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha and senior Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has claimed threat to his life from the followers of the ideology of Vinayak Damodar Savarkar, Hindutva ideologue and Nathuram Godse, who killed Mahatma Gandhi.

Gandhi’s claim came before a Special Court of MP/MLA in Pune, which is hearing a defamation came against him by Satyaki Savarkar, the grand-nephew of Veer Savarkar and a descendent of Godse family for the comments that he made against the Hindutva ideologue.

The application, filed before Judicial Magistrate (First Class) Amol Shinde by Gandhi’s lawyer Milind Pawar, said that complainant Satyaki Savarkar, the grand-nephew of Vinayak Savarkar, had admitted that he is also a direct descendant, through maternal lineage, of Nathuram Godse and Gopal Godse, the main accused in the assassination of Mahatma Gandhi.

“It cannot be ruled out that certain persons inspired by the unconstitutional ideology and views of Vinayak Damodar Savarkar, and possessing the same dangerous mindset as Nathuram and Gopal Godse, may pose a threat to Gandhi’s life,” Gandhi’s lawyer informed the court.

“During the parliamentary debate on the subject of Hindutva, there was a heated exchange between the Prime Minister and Shri Rahul Gandhi, a matter well known to the public. Against this backdrop, there is little doubt that the complainant, his great-grandfathers (the Godses), those connected with the ideology of Vinayak Savarkar, and some followers of Savarkar who are presently in power, may harbour hostility or resentment towards Gandhi.

In light of the documented history of violent and anti-constitutional tendencies linked to the complainant’s lineage, and considering the prevailing political climate, there exists a clear, reasonable, and substantial apprehension that Rahul Gandhi may face harm, wrongful implication, or other forms of targeting by persons subscribing to the ideology of Vinayak Damodar Savarkar,” the application states.

Gandhi had earlier been granted bail in the case.

Reacting to the plea, Satyaki Savarkar said it was frivolous aimed at delaying the trial of the defamation case. “The facts mentioned in the application by Gandhi have nothing to do with the present case,” he told reporters.