THE JHARKHAND STORY DESK
New Delhi, July 25: The Supreme Court on Friday prolonged the stay on criminal proceedings against Congress leader Rahul Gandhi in connection with his 2022 comments on Vinayak Damodar Savarkar during a Bharat Jodo Yatra rally in Akola, Maharashtra.
A bench of Justices Dipankar Datta and Augustine George Masih deferred the hearing for four weeks after noting an adjournment request in Gandhi’s plea challenging the Allahabad High Court order that refused to quash the summons.
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The top court allowed the complainant, advocate Nripendra Pandey, who initiated the case, to file his reply by the end of the day, while Gandhi may respond within two weeks.
The Uttar Pradesh government, opposing Gandhi’s plea, urged dismissal, supporting Pandey’s claim that the remarks were aimed at spreading hate and enmity. It maintained the High Court’s order was lawful and needed no interference.
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Earlier on April 25, the apex court slammed Gandhi’s comments, stating, “Let’s not mock our freedom fighters,” while granting an interim stay. The case invokes sections related to promoting enmity and public mischief under the penal code.
