Lucknow court fines Rahul Gandhi Rs 200 over remarks on Veer Savarkar

Lucknow: A Lucknow court has imposed a fine of Rs 200 on Congress leader Rahul Gandhi for failing to appear in a case related to his remarks on Veer Savarkar.

The Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate (ACJM) issued the order after his repeated absence and directed him to appear on April 14, 2025, warning of strict legal action if he fails to comply.

During the hearing, advocate Pranshu Agarwal, representing Rahul Gandhi, filed an exemption application, citing his responsibilities as Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha. He said that Gandhi was attending an important meeting in Delhi and other programs, asserting that his absence was not deliberate.

The case stems from Gandhi’s controversial statement in Akola, where he referred to Savarkar as a “servant of the British” and a “pensioner.”

Following this, complainant Nripendra Pandey moved the Lucknow bench of the Allahabad High Court, seeking action under sections 153(A) and 505 of the Indian Penal Code.