Published on: 12 March, 2026 14:17 IST
A criminal court in Nashik has closed a defamation case filed against Congress leader and Lok Sabha MP Rahul Gandhi over remarks he allegedly made about Hindutva ideologue Vinayak Damodar Savarkar during the Bharat Jodo Yatra in 2022.
The complaint was filed by Devendra Bhutada, president of the Nashik-based Nirbhaya Foundation, who alleged that statements made by Gandhi during public rallies in Hingoli and Akole on June 15 and 16, 2022, were defamatory and insulting toward Savarkar.
Acting on the complaint, the court took cognisance and registered offences under Sections 499 (defamation) and 504 (intentional insult) of the Indian Penal Code. Subsequently, a Nashik court issued summons to Gandhi in September 2024.
Gandhi later appeared before the court through virtual proceedings after being granted bail and pleaded not guilty to the charges. The court had also directed an inquiry under Section 202 of the Code of Criminal Procedure in September 2024.
Following the submission of the police report in the matter, the complainant sought permission to withdraw the complaint. Accepting the request, the trial court ordered the closure of the defamation proceedings.