Rahul Gandhi didn’t blame RSS for killing Mahatma Gandhi: Supreme Court
Court however refuses to quash the defamation case against Rahul Gandhi after the appellant's lawyer sought more time
New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Wednesday indicated that the criminal defamation case against Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi might not be sustainable for making remarks against Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS).
“We understand that the accused never blamed RSS as the killer of Gandhi," the court said after perusing a statement made by Rahul Gandhi before the Bombay high court.
Rajesh Kunte, secretary of Bhiwandi unit of RSS, filed a case against Rahul Gandhi for alleged defamatory comments made against the organisation during an election rally in 2014.
Gandhi is said to have referred to the assassin of Mahatma Gandhi, Nathuram Godse, and said that the RSS, the organization he belonged to, was responsible for his assassination.
Also read: Supreme Court pulls up Jayalalithaa for misusing defamation law
A bench, comprising justices Dipak Misra and Rohinton F. Nariman, however did not quash the case against Rahul Gandhi after Kunte’s lawyer sought more time to seek instructions on the issue.
Senior advocate Kapil Sibal, appearing for Rahul Gandhi referred to an affidavit filed by Gandhi before the Bombay high court in which he clarified his alleged defamatory statements.
“I never said RSS is an institution of crime but (Nathuram) Godse who assassinated Mahatma Gandhi is affiliated to RSS. It is not an attempt to appropriate the legacy of RSS," Gandhi is said to have clarified in his affidavit.
The case will be heard next on 1 September.
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