SC quashes defamation complaint against Rahul over remarks on Savarkar

Public Lokpal
August 14, 2026

New Delhi: The Supreme Court quashed a criminal defamation complaint and the consequential summoning order against Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi over remarks he made about Hindutva ideologue Vinayak Damodar Savarkar during the Bharat Jodo Yatra in November 2022.

A bench of Justices Dipankar Datta and Sheel Nagu set aside the proceedings after reviewing an affidavit submitted by the Uttar Pradesh government, which revealed that there was no record of the requisite sanction having been granted to prosecute Gandhi under the invoked provisions (such as Sections 153A and 505 of the IPC). Emphasizing the statutory necessity of state approval, the bench noted, "Sanction is required. But there is no sanction. If there is no sanction, there is no case. You have to follow the law".

The private complaint had been filed by advocate Nripendra Pandey in Lucknow, objecting to remarks where Gandhi alleged that Savarkar was a British collaborator who received a pension. After lower judicial forums and the Allahabad High Court declined to interfere with the summons, Gandhi appealed to the Supreme Court.

While granting legal relief strictly on the technical grounds of missing prosecution sanction, the apex court previously expressed strong disapproval of the statements, cautioning political figures against making irresponsible remarks about historical freedom fighters.