Nathuram Godse & Gopal Godse Convicts In Mahatma Gandhi's Murder; Were Active RSS Members : Savarkar's Kin Tells Pune Court
In a notable turn in the ongoing criminal defamation trial against Congress leader Rahul Gandhi for allegedly defaming right-wing ideologue Vinayak Savarkar, his grandnephew Satyaki told a Special MP/MLA Court in Pune that his maternal grandfather Gopal Godse and Nathuram Godse, who shot Mahatma Gandhi in 1948, were 'active' members of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS).
Satyaki, who has accused Gandhi of allegedly defaming his paternal granduncle Savarkar by delivering a speech in London, is being cross-examined before the Special Court by Gandhi's lawyer Milind Pawar.
In his cross-examination before Special Judge Amol Shinde, which continued on Monday (August 17), Satyaki admitted that his mother was the daughter of Gopal Godse, who is the real brother of Nathuram Godse. He admitted that both the Godse and Savarkar families were relatives. He told the special court that besides Nathuram, even Gopal and Savarkar were named as accused in the Mahatma Gandhi's assassination case.
"It is true to say that my grandfather (maternal) Gopalrao Godse and Vinayak Savarkar were accused in the said murder case. It is true to say that my grand uncle Nathuram Godse shot and killed Mahatma Gandhi while he was proceeding to Birla House, Delhi, for prayer. The witness volunteers that after Mahatma Gandhi was shot, he lay there unattended for about 20 minutes. Nobody took him to the nearby hospital. This was the apathy of the Government at that time towards Gandhiji," the court recorded.
Further, Satyaki told the case that in the Mahatma Gandhi's assassination case, accused No. 1 was Nathuram Godse, accused No. 2 was Narayan Apte, accused No. 3 was Vishnu Karkare, accused No. 4 was Madanlal Pahava, accused No. 5 was Shankar Kistayya, accused No. 6 was Gopal Godse, accused No. 7 was Vinayak Damodar Savarkar and accused No. 8 was Dr. DS Parchure.
"It is true to say that out of these accused, Nathuram Godse and Narayan Apte were sentenced to death. It is true to say that Gopal Godse was sentenced to imprisonment for life and, after undergoing the sentence, he came to Pune to reside. It is true to say that he resided in Pune for about 35 years and died in Pune. It is true to say that while residing in Pune, Gopal Godse wrote articles in newspapers and wrote books," Satyaki told the judge.
On an objection raised by Satyaki's counsel Sangram Kolhatkar arguing that the questions being put to his client were not related to the case, the court clarified that it will decide this issue at the time of the trial.
Satyaki further testified, "It is true to say that, my grand father Gopal Godse and Nathuram Godse were active members of Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh. I do not know that, Gopal Godse had given an interview to front line monthly magazine on 28th January 1994. I do not know Nathuram Godse had work as Intellectual Executive in the year 1944. I do not know that, the second chief of Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh Madhav Sadashiv Golwalkar and Digambar Badage were also made accused in Mahatma Gandhiji Murder case. I do not know Digambar Badage was arrested in Mahatma Gandhi Murder Case from Pune on January 31, 1948. I do not know Digambar Badage had tendered pardon in the Mahatma Gandhi murder case. It is true to say that, Nathuram Godse was member of Hindu Mahasabha Political Party."
Kolhatkar once again objected to the questions being asked by Pawar on the ground that the said questions are related to the seat of Gandhiji and related to RSS, both of which are not the issues before the court through the instant criminal defamation case.
"The said objection will be decided at the time of final decision," the court said.
During the cross-examination, Satyaki also admitted that his wife and grandfather (maternal) were members of the 'Hindu Mahasabha Party, which he confirmed, is a political party till date. He confirmed further that after Savarkar's release from the Andaman Jail, he served as a President of the Hindu Mahasabha Party during the period from 1937 to 1943.
The cross examination will continue on September 1.
Gandhi's Voice Sample
Meanwhile, Satyaki through his counsel Kolhatkar filed an application before the special court urging it to order collection of Rahul Gandhi's voice sample so as to match it with the audio of the speech delivered by him in London. The plea states that since the cross-examination is being conducted in a 'piecemeal' manner, the same is being delayed unnecessarily.
The application further highlights that even as Gandhi had earlier sought exemption from physically appearing in the special court in Pune citing security reasons especially because Pune is a hometown of Nathuram Godse, the Leader of Opposition Party (LOP) was scheduled to address a gathering at Pune itself on or around August 22.
This application has been opposed orally by Pawar however, the bench has asked him to file his say in the matter and has adjourned the hearing till September 1.
Background:
The defamation complaint asserts that Gandhi has repeatedly defamed Savarkar on various occasions over the years. One specific incident highlighted was on March 5, 2023, when Gandhi addressed the Overseas Congress in the United Kingdom.
The complainant, Satyaki Savarkar, has claimed that Gandhi intentionally made wild allegations against Savarkar, knowing them to be untrue, with the intention of harming Savarkar's reputation and causing mental agony to the complainant and his family. He states that the defamatory speech was delivered in England, but its impact was felt in Pune as it was published and circulated throughout India.
Satyaki, in his complaint, has submitted several news reports and a YouTube link to a video of Gandhi's speech in London as evidence. He has claimed that Gandhi falsely accused Savarkar of writing a book in which he described beating up a Muslim person, which Savarkar never wrote and such an incident never happened.
Satyaki argued that Gandhi made these false, malicious, and wild allegations with the specific objective of defaming Savarkar and harming his reputation.
The criminal defamation application filed by Satyaki demands maximum punishment for Gandhi under Section 500 (Punishment for defamation) of the IPC and seeks imposition of maximum compensation as per Section 357 (Order to pay compensation) of the CrPC.
Case Title: Satyaki Savarkar vs Rahul Gandhi
Previously -
Savarkar Objected To Cow Worship, Treated It Only As A Useful Animal : Grandnephew Tells Pune Court
Savarkar Wrote Book Questioning God's Existence & Religious Beliefs : Grandnephew Tells Court