Rahul Gandhi Defamation Trial Features Savarkar's Anti‑God Writings in Pune Court

A special court in Pune, presided over by Judge Amol Shinde, heard excerpts from a book authored by Hindutva ideologue Vinayak Damodar Savarkar that question the existence of God and criticize religious practices. During cross‑examination, Savarkar's grandnephew Satyaki Savarkar confirmed the authorship of the work titled "Savarkar's Science‑oriented Essays," and Rahul Gandhi's lawyer Milind Pawar read the passages to bolster the defence in a criminal defamation case filed by the Savarkar family against the Congress leader.

The excerpts cite Savarkar urging people to abandon a personal relationship with a deity and to rely on reason, highlighting historical instances where Hindu deities did not intervene during invasions. The case centers on whether Gandhi's statements about Savarkar constitute defamation, with the contested book now becoming a focal point in the legal battle.