The Supreme Court on Friday quashed the criminal defamation complaint and summons issued against Congress leader and Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi over his remarks concerning Hindutva ideologue Vinayak Damodar Savarkar.
A bench comprising Justices Dipankar Datta and Sheel Nagu passed the order after the Uttar Pradesh government disclosed that there was no record of the sanction required to initiate the proceedings.
“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.
The case stemmed from comments made by Gandhi on November 17, 2022, during his Bharat Jodo Yatra in Maharashtra's Akola district. Advocate Nripendra Pandey had approached the court, alleging that Gandhi had intentionally insulted Savarkar and that his remarks were part of a conspiracy to defame the former Hindutva ideologue.
Gandhi had challenged the decision of a subordinate court to summon him and sought an end to the proceedings. The matter had earlier reached the Lucknow bench of the Allahabad High Court, which in April 2025 said Gandhi could pursue a revision petition before the sessions court.
The Supreme Court's latest order brings relief to Gandhi in the Uttar Pradesh case, with the complaint and the magistrate's orders now set aside on the ground that the mandatory sanction had not been obtained.
