The Nashik Court on Thursday granted bail to Congress leader and Lok Sabha LoP, Rahul Gandhi in a defamation case filed against him for making comments about Hindutva ideologue and freedom fighter Vinayak Damodar Savarkar during his Bharat Jodo Yatra in 2022.
Appearing before Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate RC Naravadia via video link on Thursday, Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi pleaded not guilty while his lawyer sought bail.
The case has been filed by a Nashik resident, named Devendra Bhutada. Advocate Manoj Pingle has been representing him in a criminal defamation case against Gandhi under sections 500 (defamation) and 504 (intentional insult with intent to breach the peace) of the Indian Penal Code.
Speaking about the court order, Pingle said that the court has accepted Rahul Gandhi's plea on a bond of Rs 15,000. During the hearing, the Judge read out the charge under Section 500 of the IPC and asked Gandhi's lawyer Pawar, whether he understood the nature of the allegations.
To this, Pawar replied affirmatively, adding that he received copies of the complaint and all relevant documents. Asked if he wished to plead guilty, Advocate Milind Pawar on behalf of Rahul Gandhi clearly stated, "No. I do not plead guilty."
The court has set July 29 as the date to start recording evidence in the case. It will likely be the start of a full trial. The hearing on other applications related to the case will also be conducted on July 29.
The complainant has alleged that Gandhi delivered in November 2022 as part of his yatra in Hingoli. He alleged that the remarks "harmed Savarkar's reputation." The complaint further stated, "The speech of the accused along with press statements try to ruin the reputation of the complainant's idol Swatantryaveer Savarkar and his contribution to the society along with his noble work in the pre-independence period."