Court asks Rahul to appear for bail

A Nashik court directed Congress leader Rahul Gandhi to appear in person to seek bail in a defamation case filed over his remarks related to Hindutva ideologue VD Savarkar during the ‘Bharat Jodo’ Yatra in 2022. Nashik resident Devendra Bhutada, through advocate Manoj Pingle, had filed a defamation case against Gandhi under sections 500 and 504 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC). In the petition, Bhutada claimed that his sentiments were hurt by some of Gandhi’s remarks about Savarkar. During the hearing, 10th Joint Civil Judge, Senior Division and Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate (CJM) of Nashik RC Naravadia on Saturday said that Gandhi will have to appear in person to seek bail. Gandhi’s advocates Jayant Jaibhave and Akash Chhajed filed an application urging the Congress leader to be granted permanent exemption from appearance and also sought exemption to allow him to appear through ‘video conference’ whenever required. Petitioner’s advocate Pingle said that Gandhi’s application for permanent exemption will be heard on May 9.