Savarkar Filed 5 Mercy Pleas, Saw Cow as ‘Useful Animal’: Grandnephew in Court
Pune: In a significant development during a defamation case hearing, Satyaki Savarkar, grandnephew of Vinayak Damodar Savarkar, told a special MP/MLA court in Pune that the Hindutva ideologue had filed five mercy petitions during his imprisonment under British rule.
The statement came during cross-examination in a criminal defamation case filed by Satyaki Savarkar against Congress leader Rahul Gandhi over remarks made in a 2023 speech in London.
During the proceedings, Satyaki also clarified that Savarkar did not consider the cow a deity, but rather saw it as a “useful animal” from a rationalist perspective. He emphasized that Savarkar’s views were often misinterpreted without a complete understanding of his writings.
Addressing another key issue, Satyaki acknowledged that Savarkar had appealed for Indian recruitment into the British Army during World War II. He defended the move, stating it was intended to ensure Indian youth received military and arms training, which could benefit the country after independence.
On the issue of mercy petitions, Satyaki stated that such applications were a common practice among political prisoners during that period and should not be viewed in isolation.
The case stems from Rahul Gandhi’s alleged remarks about Savarkar, which Satyaki claims were defamatory. His legal team has also filed additional applications, including a perjury plea, accusing Gandhi of misleading the court regarding key evidence such as a video of the London speech.
The court is continuing to examine the matter, with further cross-examination scheduled for June 1.
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