A Nashik court has directed Congress leader Rahul Gandhi to appear in person and seek bail in a defamation case related to his remarks on Swatantryaveer Vinayak Damodar Savarkar.
The case was filed by Devendra Bhutada, a Nashik-based Savarkar supporter, after Rahul Gandhi referred to Savarkar as a "Mafiveer" during his speech in Wardha as part of the Bharat Jodo Yatra. Claiming that these remarks hurt his sentiments, Bhutada filed a criminal defamation suit under Sections 500 and 504 of the IPC through his lawyer Advocate Manoj Pingle.
During today’s hearing, Rahul Gandhi’s lawyers, Jayant Jaibhave and Akash Chhajed, informed the court that he could not be present and sought an exemption for the day. The court accepted the request. However, the petitioners insisted that Rahul Gandhi must appear in court to seek bail, and the court granted this demand.
Meanwhile, Rahul Gandhi’s lawyers also submitted an application requesting that he be allowed to be permanently absent from court and instead appear virtually when required. The court has scheduled the hearing on this request for the next session on May 9, according to Advocate Manoj Pingle.