A local court on Wednesday imposed a fine of ₹200 on Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, for failing to appear in a 2022 defamation case concerning his alleged derogatory remarks about freedom fighter Vinayak Damodar Savarkar. 

In December 2024, Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate Alok Verma had directed Gandhi to be present in court on Wednesday. However, he did not appear, and his legal team submitted an application seeking exemption from personal appearance. 

The court ordered Gandhi to pay ₹200 to the complainant's lawyer and scheduled the next hearing for April 14. 

Gandhi’s lawyer cited official commitments, including meetings with foreign dignitaries and other engagements, as the reason for his absence.

The defamation case originates from Rahul Gandhi's remarks on Vinayak Damodar Savarkar, made during his Bharat Jodo Yatra at a rally in Maharashtra's Akola district on November 17, 2022.  

Advocate Nripendra Pandey filed a complaint, alleging that Gandhi deliberately insulted Savarkar during the event. 

The complainant further claimed that Gandhi’s remarks were part of a well-planned conspiracy to tarnish Savarkar’s reputation and were widely broadcast across various media platforms.