Bombay High Court dismisses petition towards Rahul Gandhi over remarks on Savarkar

The Bombay High Court on Tuesday (July 15, 2025) rejected and refused to entertain a public curiosity litigation (PIL) petition alleging that Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi violated the petitioner’s rights by making “immature” remarks about Hindutva ideologue Vinayak Damodar Savarkar. The petition sought the courtroom to difficulty instructions to the Congress chief that he ought to learn his petition and study Savarkar earlier than making “irresponsible” statements.

The 125-page petition, filed by Professor Pankaj Okay. Phadnis, 65, from Mumbai and the founding president of Abhinav Bharat Congress, a public coverage assume tank, talked about historical past and analysis work by the petitioner on Savarkar.

The petitioner stated that Mr. Gandhi, in London in March 2023, had tried to color Savarkar as somebody who takes pleasure within the humiliation of Muslims.

He additional stated that Mr. Gandhi tried to painting Savarkar as a coward and in a derogatory reference at a press convention held on March 25, 2023, the place he stated, “My identify just isn’t Savarkar, I’m Gandhi and Gandhi doesn’t make apologies to anybody.”

“Rahul Gandhi is LoP in Lok Sabha and will properly change into Prime Minister of India sooner or later. Therefore, he can’t be allowed to take liberties with info to denigrate revered leaders of freedom battle and forestall the younger from being able to fulfil their elementary duties. The solely method to forestall him from inflicting hurt to the nation is by an knowledgeable such because the petitioner to step into the field, depose complete info about Shri Savarkar and permit himself to be cross examined by Rahul Gandhi to ascertain info as soon as and for all,” the petitioner stated, asking the courtroom to direct Mr. Gandhi to learn the contents of his petition and study Savarkar.

A Division Bench of Chief Justice Alok Aradhe and Justice Sandeep Marne noticed that the Supreme Court had already dismissed an analogous petition filed by Mr. Phadnis and stated that the courtroom couldn’t direct Mr. Gandhi to learn the contents of the petition and take away his ignorance about Vinayak Savarkar. “In your petition, your prayer is to direct him to personally examine and browse your petition. How can the courtroom compel him to learn your petition? This courtroom can’t difficulty instructions to Rahul Gandhi to review the contents of this petition and take away ignorance in regards to the contribution of Savarkar. We have no idea if he’ll change into Prime Minister or not. Do that he’ll change into the Prime Minister?“ the Bench famous and disposed of the petition.

The courtroom famous {that a} legal defamation case had already been filed towards Mr. Gandhi by Satyaki Savarkar, grand nephew of Vinayak Savarkar, and that the identical was pending earlier than a particular MP/MLA Court in Pune.