Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has claimed there is a threat to his life due to his remarks on right-wing leader Vinayak Damodar Savarkar (also known as Veer Sarvarkar), his lawyer said in a puris submitted before a Pune court apprehending that his safety is at risk, especially after he “exposed” the alleged “vote theft“. Gandhi said he has received threat of “meeting the same fate” as his grand mother Indira Gandhi.

He said the complainant in the case is descendent of the Nathuram Godse, the man who assassinated Mahatma Gandhi, adding that he can take advantage of current political atmosphere to harm Rahul Gandhi.

The Special MP/MLA Court in Pune on Wednesday took on record the submission by Rahul Gandhi’s lawyer, Milind Pawar, that flagged how Gandhi has been termed a “terrorist” by BJP leader RN Bittu.

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It added that an open threat was issued by another BJP leader Tarvinder Marwah, who had said Gandhi must “behave well else he may face the same fate like his grandmother.”

Rahul Gandhi’s grandmother, Indira Gandhi was the country’s first and only woman Prime Minister. She was assassinated by her Sikh security guards following Operation Blue Star. The killed led to anti-Sikh riots in 1984.

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Party, Rahul Gandhi disagree

However, hours after the development made headlines, Congress spokesperson Supriya Shrinate said the claim was made by the lawyer himself without consulting the MP, and a formal application will be filed soon to withdraw the same.

“Shri Rahul Gandhi’s lawyer had filed a written statement (pursis) in the court citing threat to his life without Rahul ji’s consent. Rahul Gandhi strongly disagrees with this. The lawyer will withdraw this written statement from the court tomorrow,” she said, while sharing a formal statement of the lawyer.

The statement of the lawyer read: “The Pursis dated 13.08.2025 was filed by me in the Court without Instructions from the client. The contents of the Pursis were drafted by me without consulting my client Shri. Rahul Gandhi. My client has taken strong exception to filing of this Pursis dated 13.08.2025 and has expressed his disagreement with the contents of the Pursis I shall file a formal application tomorrow for withdrawal of the said Pulsis before the Hon’ble Court.”

What Rahul Gandhi submitted in court

According to a report in Live Law, Rahul Gandhi’s lawyer, in his submission, said, “In light of the documented history of violent and anti-constitutional tendencies linked to the complainant’s lineage, and considering the prevailing political climate, there exists a clear, reasonable, and substantial apprehension that Gandhi may face harm, wrongful implication, or other forms of targeting by persons subscribing to the ideology of Vinayak Savarkar.”

“The complainant himself has asserted descent from the associates of Mahatma Gandhi‘s assassins. In view of the grave history associated with such lineage, the Defence harbours a genuine and reasonable apprehension that history must not be permitted to repeat itself. It is also necessary to note that the ideology of Hindutva, followed by the complainant’s ideological forebears, has in several instances assumed political power through unconstitutional means,” the statement added.

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‘Caste-based extremists, politically motivated industrialists’

Rahul Gandhi’s lawyer said that the MP holds the constitutional position of the Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, and in his capacity, “is standing against such policies and raising his voice for the poor and marginalised.”

“Accordingly, it cannot be ruled out that caste-based extremists, politically motivated industrialists, Hindutva supporters, and those willing to subvert constitutional governance may harbour animosity towards the Accused,” the plea further read.