Pune, Feb. 18 -- A Pune court on Tuesday granted permanent exemption from appearance to Congress MP Rahul Gandhi in a defamation case filed over his alleged objectionable remarks on Hindutva ideologue V D Savarkar, citing his top-level security and the Leader of Opposition status.
An application seeking permanent exemption from appearing before the special court for MP/MLA
was moved by Advocate Milind Pawar, who is representing Gandhi (54) in the defamation case, last month.
The case, in which the Congress leader obtained bail last month, was filed by a relative of Savarkar.
Amol Shinde, Judicial Magistrate (First Class) presiding over the special court for MP/MLA, in his order, stated that the accused is the Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha and has to attend several meetings.
Considering that he is a "Z-plus" protectee and taking into account expenses incurred on his security arrangements (during Pune visit) and also law and order issue if he attends the hearing, the court grants permanent exemption to Gandhi from appearing in the case, said the order.
Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Millennium Post.