Congress leader Rahul Gandhi was convicted in a 2019 criminal defamation case on Thursday for his ‘Modi surname’ remark and sentenced to a two-year jail term followed by his disqualification from the Lok Sabha on Thursday.
While the Congress insists that it will soon appeal the Surat court's verdict, Gandhi's legal woes may be far from over.
According to recent reports, the ousted MP may soon find himself facing other defamation cases in connection with remarks against VD Savarkar and the RSS.
Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde came down heavily against Gandhi on Saturday for his comments on Savarkar and references to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the OBC community.
"Savarkar is not only Maharashtra's deity but is an idol for the whole country and Rahul Gandhi has defamed him. Any criticism of Rahul Gandhi will be lesser for this deed. Today also, he said that I am not Savarkar who will apologise. What does he think of Savarkar? He must be punished for this," CM Shinde said in the Assembly.
During his press conference in New Delhi, Gandhi, a day after he was disqualified as MP, said: “….my name is not Savarkar, my name is Gandhi....Gandhi does not apologise for what's right.”
The Shiv Sena chief also recalled Gandhi's earlier comments against the Hindutva ideologue - including his November 2022 assertion that Vinayak Damodar Savarkar had ‘helped the British’.
"Veer Savarkar has spent years in jail….he (Gandhi) should be punished (for such comments)….he not only insulted Modi but the entire OBC community", he said. "Gandhi and Congress leaders are no match to what Savarkar has sacrificed for freedom," Shinde added.
Meanwhile, the Congress leader is also facing another case of alleged defamation, filed by an RSS worker in 2014.
In March the same year, Gandhi had allegedly told an election campaign rally that “the RSS people had killed (Mahatma) Gandhi". The case is being heard by a court in the Thane district of Maharashtra.
The Bhiwandi court is slated to pass an order on the Congress leader's plea seeking permanent exemption from appearance on March 4.
Gandhi has sought exemption on the ground that he is a resident of Delhi and Lok Sabha member, and the trial can proceed in his absence as he would be represented by his lawyer.