The Supreme Court on Friday quashed a criminal defamation complaint and the summons issued to Congress leader Rahul Gandhi over his remarks about freedom fighter Vinayak Damodar Savarkar, ruling that the mandatory sanction required to proceed with the case had not been obtained.
A bench comprising Justices Dipankar Datta and Sheel Nagu passed the order after noting that the required sanction was not disclosed in the case.
“Additional Solicitor General and advocate for complainant, in the affidavit filed by UP, submits there is no disclosure of sanction. In such view of the matter, the complaint and orders passed by magistrate stands quashed,” the bench said.
Case dates back to 2022 Bharat Jodo Yatra
The defamation proceedings stemmed from comments made by Gandhi on November 17, 2022, during his Bharat Jodo Yatra at a rally in Maharashtra’s Akola district.
Advocate Nripendra Pandey had filed the complaint, accusing Gandhi of deliberately insulting Savarkar during the rally. The complainant alleged that Gandhi’s remarks were part of a “well-planned conspiracy” to defame Savarkar.
A trial court subsequently summoned Gandhi in the matter.
Gandhi challenged summons in Supreme Court
The Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha challenged the subordinate court’s decision to summon him, contesting the criminal proceedings initiated over his remarks.
The matter had also reached the Lucknow bench of the Allahabad High Court, which on April 4, 2025, held that Gandhi could approach the sessions court by filing a revision petition. The High Court had therefore declined to intervene at that stage.
The Supreme Court’s latest order now brings the criminal defamation complaint and the magistrate’s orders against Gandhi to an end.
