The Supreme Court on Friday stayed the summons issued by a Magistrate court to Leader of Opposition (LoP) Rahul Gandhi in a criminal case registered against him over his controversial remarks against freedom fighter Vinayak Damodar Savarkar.
The Bench of Justice Dipankar Datta and Justice Manmohan stayed the summons on the grounds that Senior Counsel Abhishek Manu Singhvi, appearing for Gandhi, had made a good point on law.
The Apex Court, however, took strong objection to the Congress leader calling Savarkar a British collaborator, who allegedly received pension from them.
Noting that the freedom fighters helped the country in getting independence, the top court of the country said they could not be treated like this.
Gandhi was directed not to make irresponsible statements without knowing the history or geography of freedom fighters. The Court warned him that it would initiate suo motu action against him, in case he made a similar statement in future.
Highlighting that Gandhi’s grandmother and former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi had written to Savarkar praising him, the Apex Court asked him whether he knew about it. The Bench further observed that Father of the Nation Mahatma Gandhi used the words ‘your faithful servant’.