Vinayak Damodar Savarkar had condemned Mahatma Gandhi’s assassination and, despite disagreeing with some of Gandhi’s political views, did not want him killed, Satyaki Savarkar, the Hindutva ideologue’s grandnephew, told a special MP/MLA court in Pune during cross-examination in a criminal defamation case against Congress leader Rahul Gandhi.
Satyaki made the statement while being questioned by advocate Milind Pawar, who represents Rahul Gandhi in the proceedings. The cross-examination took place on October 14 and is scheduled to continue on October 28.
When asked whether he supported Gandhi’s assassination, given his family connections with Nathuram Godse, Gopal Godse and Savarkar, Satyaki categorically denied supporting the killing. He further stated that Savarkar had also condemned the assassination.
Satyaki acknowledged that Savarkar differed from Gandhi on certain political principles and positions. However, he maintained that such ideological differences did not mean Savarkar wanted Gandhi to be killed.
During the proceedings, Pawar questioned Satyaki about interviews allegedly given by his maternal grandparents, Gopal and Sindhu Godse, after the completion of their prison sentences. The questions concerned accounts suggesting prior knowledge of the conspiracy to assassinate Gandhi and statements allegedly capable of fostering hostility between Hindu and Muslim communities.
Satyaki denied that his grandparents had given interviews with the intention of generating communal hatred.
The cross-examination also touched upon a ceremony reportedly held in Pune on November 12, 1964, to honour Gopal Godse, Madanlal Pahwa and Vishnu Karkare after their release from prison. Satyaki said he was unaware of whether the event had taken place or whether G.V. Ketkar, grandson of Lokmanya Tilak, had presided over it.
He also expressed ignorance about whether Ketkar had stated at the gathering that he had known of the conspiracy to assassinate Gandhi six months before the killing, a claim referred to in connection with the subsequent constitution of the Kapur Commission.
Addressing the commission’s findings, Satyaki stated that the Justice Jeevanlal Kapur Commission had independently examined the conspiracy surrounding Gandhi’s assassination and had referred to Savarkar in its report.
He, however, maintained that a commission’s findings could not override judicial determinations. The court record notes his contention that the Kapur Commission was not above the judiciary, that the government had not accepted its report and that no challenge had been brought against the judgments delivered in the assassination case.
The testimony forms part of the ongoing criminal defamation proceedings initiated by Satyaki against Rahul Gandhi over remarks the Congress leader allegedly made about Savarkar during a speech in the United Kingdom on March 5, 2023.
According to the complaint, Gandhi had referred to an alleged account in a book attributed to Savarkar, describing an incident in which Savarkar and his associates purportedly assaulted a Muslim man. Satyaki contends that the account was false and that Gandhi’s remarks were intended to damage Savarkar’s reputation and cause distress to his family.
The complainant has relied on media reports and a video of the London speech in support of his allegations. He has sought prosecution for criminal defamation and the imposition of punishment and compensation.
The case, titled Satyaki Savarkar v. Rahul Gandhi, is pending before the special MP/MLA court in Pune. The allegations made in the complaint remain subject to adjudication.
The post Savarkar opposed Gandhi’s assassination, grandnephew tells Pune Court during Rahul Gandhi defamation trial appeared first on India Legal.