Pune: Congress leader and Lok Sabha Opposition chief Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday told a Pune court that there is a “serious threat” to his life in connection with the ongoing criminal defamation case over his remarks on Vinayak Damodar Savarkar.
Gandhi’s counsel Milind Pawar submitted a written application during the hearing, stating that the complainant, Satyaki Savarkar – a relative of the late Hindutva ideologue and also connected to Nathuram Godse’s lineage – poses a security risk. The plea said the complainant has “publicly espoused violent and anti-constitutional tendencies” and claimed that Gandhi could face harm or be wrongfully implicated given the prevailing political climate.
The application also referred to recent remarks by some BJP leaders, one of whom allegedly termed Gandhi a “terrorist,” while another warned he could “meet the same fate” as his grandmother, former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, if he did not “behave.”
Citing these threats, Gandhi has requested preventive security measures from the Maharashtra government.
The criminal defamation case stems from Gandhi’s 2023 London speech where he allegedly quoted passages from Savarkar’s book about an assault on a Muslim man — a claim Satyaki Savarkar disputes as false and defamatory.
Earlier this year, the Pune court granted Gandhi bail on a ₹25,000 surety bond and allowed permanent exemption from personal appearance, citing security concerns and his official responsibilities. The court also converted the case into a summons trial for detailed examination of evidence after the Congress leader requested a deeper inquiry into historical documents.
The next hearing will continue under the modified trial format even as the plea for security is under consideration.