Pune: A special court in Pune has taken steps to ensure that Congress leader Rahul Gandhi is served a summons through the Patiala Court in Delhi, in connection with a defamation case filed over remarks made about freedom fighter Swatantryaveer Vinayak Damodar Savarkar.
The Patiala Court has directed that the summons be served via the Chief Judicial Magistrate's office.
The defamation suit was filed by Satyaki Savarkar, the grandson of Veer Savarkar, in a Pune court.
The case relates to statements made by Rahul Gandhi during a speech in London, which Satyaki Savarkar claims tarnished his grandfather’s reputation.
The Pune court had previously issued a summons to Rahul Gandhi, requiring him to appear either in person or through his legal representatives on October 23.
This summons was forwarded to the Patiala Court for execution in Delhi, where Gandhi is based.
According to Satyaki Savarkar's lawyer, Advocate Sangram Kolhatkar, the Patiala Court has now instructed that the summons be served through its Chief Judicial Magistrate.
The case will be heard in a special court that handles cases against current and former legislators. Magistrate Amol Shinde had initially issued the summons, with the court set to decide on the matter.
The Vishrambaug Police, who investigated the complaint, have already submitted a report that supports Satyaki Savarkar's claims regarding the offensive nature of Gandhi’s comments.
The 'MP-MLA' court was established to handle criminal cases filed under the Indian Penal Code, the Criminal Procedure Code, and specific writ petitions against current or former MPs and MLAs. This ensures that such cases are fast-tracked.
