Relief for Rahul Gandhi, SC quashes criminal defamation complaint in Savarkar remarks row

The Supreme Court dismissed a criminal defamation complaint against Rahul Gandhi, the leader of opposition in the Lok Sabha and a Congress MP, on Friday. The bench, consisting of Justice Dipankar Datta and Justice Sheel Nagu, overturned the proceedings initiated by the Uttar Pradesh government. They noted that the necessary legal sanction had not been granted to prosecute Gandhi.

Gandhi had previously challenged a trial court's order summoning him for charges under Sections 153-A and 505 of the Indian Penal Code. He had alleged that Vinayak Damodar Savarkar was a collaborator of the British. After a complaint was filed, a magistrate issued a summons against Gandhi. The court allowed his petition, stating that the criminal case lacked the required sanction to proceed.