Lucknow: A Lucknow court on Wednesday imposed a fine of Rs. 200 on Congress leader Rahul Gandhi for failing to appear in connection with a case regarding his remarks about freedom fighter Veer Savarkar. The Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate (ACJM) also issued a stern warning, directing Gandhi to appear before the court on April 14, 2025, and stated that further non-compliance could result in legal consequences.
The case stemmed from a complaint by Nripendra Pandey, who took issue with Gandhi’s statement during a press conference in Maharashtra on December 17, 2022. Gandhi had allegedly referred to Savarkar as “a servant of the British” and “a pension receiver,” remarks that Pandey claimed were inflammatory and could incite public unrest. The complainant further alleged that similar pamphlets were distributed to journalists at the event.
During the hearing, Gandhi’s lawyer, Pranshu Agrawal, sought an exemption from his client’s appearance, citing a pre-scheduled meeting with a foreign dignitary. Agrawal assured the court that Gandhi was not intentionally avoiding the proceedings and respected the judicial process.
Despite this explanation, the court imposed the fine and insisted on Gandhi’s presence at the next hearing. Failure to appear could result in a non-bailable warrant, the court cautioned.
In addition to the Savarkar case, Gandhi is facing another legal challenge related to comments made during an economic survey ahead of the Lok Sabha elections. A complaint filed by Pankaj Pathak, president of the All India Hindu Federation Mandal, alleges that Gandhi’s statements regarding wealth distribution offended religious sentiments.
