Pune, July 12 -- Congress MP and Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition (LoP) Rahul Gandhi on Friday pleaded not guilty before a Pune court in connection with a defamation case filed against him over his remarks on Hindutva ideologue Vinayak Damodar Savarkar.

The plea was submitted before Judicial Magistrate (First Class) and Special Judge for MP/MLA cases, Amol Sriram Shinde, at the Pune District Court. Advocate Milind Pawar appeared on behalf of Rahul Gandhi, as the Congress leader was not personally present during the proceedings.

The defamation complaint was filed by Satyaki Savarkar, the grandnephew of V D Savarkar, alleging that Rahul Gandhi made defamatory and derogatory statements about the freedom fighter during an event organised by t...