NEW DELHI: The defence counsel for leader of opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday opposed a plea seeking his voice sample in the defamation case filed by Satyaki Savarkar, grandson of Hindutva ideologue Vinayak Damodar Savarkar, in a Pune court.Gandhi’s lawyer Milind D Pawar argued that the case had not yet reached the stage where the defence would examine whether the alleged speech was actually made with a defamatory intention, and therefore a voice sample was not required at this stage.Speaking to news agency ANI, Pawar said the special MP/MLA court in Pune has directed the defence to file its formal response to the application by September 1.According to Pawar, the application was moved after Gandhi’s appearance in Pune on August 22, with the complainant seeking to have his voice sampled.“A deformation case filed by Satyaki Savarkar against Rahul Gandhi. On 31st of December 2025, the chief examination of Satyaki Savarkar has been completed and thereafter on behalf of Rahul Gandhi, cross examination is going on,” Pawar said.He added, “Yesterday the complainant has filed an application that Rahul Gandhi came in Pune on 22nd of August, 2026 and therefore, he may kindly be called for voice sample.”Pawar said the court accepted his argument that the voice sample was premature. “Still we are not come on that defence that whether we have really given that speech where our intention is defamation that defence is not yet to be came before the court and therefore at this stage voice sample is not required,” he said.
Satyaki Savarkar’s deposition brings Godse-RSS links into focus
The voice sample plea came amid further cross-examination of Satyaki Savarkar, during which he made statements about the relationship between the Savarkar and Godse families and the latter family’s links with the RSS.According to the deposition cited by ANI, Satyaki said, “It is true to say that my grandfathers Gopal Godse and Nathuram Godse were active members of Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh.”Satyaki identified Gopal Godse as his maternal grandfather and Sindhu Godse as his maternal grandmother. His mother was Himani Savarkar.He also acknowledged that the Savarkar and Godse families were related, although he said he did not have complete information about their historical relationship or whether relevant records were available in government archives.Satyaki said his mother died in Pune in 2015 and Gopal Godse died there in 2007. He also said that both his mother and grandfather worked for the Hindu Mahasabha until their deaths.The cross-examination also touched upon the assassination of Mahatma Gandhi in 1948 and the historical roles of the people involved.Some questions concerning the RSS and Digambar Badge were objected to by the complainant’s lawyer, Sangram Kolhatkar. The court recorded that the objections would be dealt with at the time of the final decision.
Case stems from Gandhi’s 2023 London remarks
Satyaki Savarkar, a grandson of one of V D Savarkar’s brothers, filed the defamation case against Gandhi over remarks the Congress leader allegedly made about Savarkar during an Overseas Congress event in London on March 5, 2023.
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Satyaki subsequently approached a magistrate court in Pune in April 2023, alleging that Gandhi’s remarks were false and defamatory and had damaged the reputation of Savarkar and caused distress to his family and supporters.The case is currently at the stage of cross-examination of the complainant.Pawar said the chief examination of Satyaki had been completed on December 31, 2025, while his cross-examination by Gandhi’s legal team is continuing. The proceedings were deferred to September 1, when the defence is expected to respond formally to the voice sample application.
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