Lucknow/IBNS: A Lucknow Court on Wednesday imposed a fine of Rs. 200 on Congress leader Rahul Gandhi for repeatedly failing to appear before it in connection with a case related to his remarks on freedom fighter Veer Savarkar.

The Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate (ACJM) also issued a strict warning, directing Gandhi to appear before the court on April 14, 2025.

The judge said if Gandhi fails to appear again, he could face legal consequences.

The case originated based on a complaint filed by Nripendra Pandey, who objected to a statement made by Rahul Gandhi during a press conference in Maharashtra on December 17, 2022.

Gandhi had then allegedly referred to Veer Savarkar as "a servant of the British" and "a pension receiver."

The complainant argued that these remarks were inflammatory and aimed at inciting enmity in society.

He also claimed that pamphlets containing similar comments were distributed among journalists at the event.

A demand was made to register a case against Gandhi under Sections 153(A) and 505 of the Indian Penal Code for allegedly promoting discord through his statements.

During Wednesday's hearing, Gandhi's lawyer, Pranshu Agrawal, filed an application seeking an exemption from his appearance.

He stated that Gandhi, as the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, had a pre-scheduled meeting with a foreign dignitary on the same day and was preoccupied with official responsibilities.

The lawyer assured the court that Gandhi was not deliberately avoiding the hearing and respected the judicial process.

The court, however, did not take Gandhi's absence lightly and imposed a Rs. 200 fine. It ordered his mandatory appearance on April 14, 2025, cautioning that failure to comply could result in the issuance of a non-bailable warrant.

Besides the Savarkar-related case, Rahul Gandhi is also facing another legal challenge stemming from a statement he made during an economic survey in the run-up to the Lok Sabha elections.

Pankaj Pathak, president of the All India Hindu Federation Mandal, filed a complaint in June 2024, alleging that Gandhi's comments regarding the distribution of wealth hurt religious sentiments.