Satyaki Savarkar alleges Rahul Gandhi’s cross-examination amounting to surveillance, prolonging trial

Satyaki Savarkar, the grandnephew of VD Savarkar, has filed an objection pursis before the Special MP/MLA Court in Pune, alleging that Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi’s defence team is conducting a "roving and fishing inquiry" during cross-examination to prolong the defamation trial. [Satyaki Savarkar v. Rahul Gandhi]

In the pursis filed on October 14, Savarkar submitted that his cross-examination has spanned an "unreasonable span of more than ten (10) months" without any definitive timeframe provided by the defence.

He contended that persistent questions regarding his daily routine, publishing business and attendance at public and cultural events infringe upon his fundamental rights, creating an apprehension of being followed.

“Inquiring into Complainant's movements and public presence creates an oppressive atmosphere of surveillance, directly impeding upon his personal liberty and right to privacy,” the pursis stated.

Savarkar pointed out that he has scrupulously restricted his case to the facts in issue and "never sought to delve into the Accused's personal movements, foreign visits or private engagements." He urged the court to curb irrelevant inquiries, arguing that the defence is dragging in unrelated political and cultural organisations "merely to politicize the trial and consume the precious judicial time," warning that proceedings "would go on for ages and will be unending."

This is the second time Savarkar has sought judicial intervention to regulate the proceedings. On July 30, he filed an application seeking a strict timeline and tighter control over the cross-examination. Judicial Magistrate First Class Amol Shinde issued notice on August 4 seeking Gandhi’s reply, which remains pending.

The criminal defamation complaint stems from remarks made by Gandhi during a gathering in the United Kingdom in March 2023. Gandhi allegedly claimed that Savarkar wrote in his memoirs about an incident where he and others assaulted a Muslim man and derived pleasure from the act.

Satyaki Savarkar initiated criminal defamation proceedings under Section 500 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and sought compensation under Section 357 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC), asserting that no such incident exists in VD Savarkar's published works and accusing Gandhi of distorting history.

The hearing will continue on October 28.

Advocate Sangram Kolhatkar appeared for Satyaki Savarkar.

Advocate Milind Pawar appeared for Rahul Gandhi.