Blank CD Sparks Chaos in Rahul Gandhi Court Case

Unexpected Incident During MP/MLA Special Court Hearing

An unusual turn of events unfolded on Thursday at the MP/MLA Special Court in Pune during the defamation case against Congress MP and Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi. The case, concerning alleged remarks against Hindu thinker Vinayak Damodar Savarkar, took a surprising twist when the main piece of evidence—a CD—proved to be blank during court proceedings. Magistrate Amol Shinde is presiding over the case, which was filed by Savarkar’s great-grandson, Satyaki Savarkar, claiming that Rahul Gandhi made objectionable comments about Savarkar during a speech in London.

Drama Unfolds When Sealed CD Is Played

Reports indicate that the video of the alleged speech was submitted to the court in a sealed CD. This CD was reportedly used as the basis for issuing summons to Rahul Gandhi. However, when the CD was played in court on Thursday, it contained no data, leaving everyone present astonished. Advocate Sangram Kolhatkar, representing Satyaki Savarkar, expressed shock and reminded the court that the same CD had been viewed previously, forming the foundation of ongoing proceedings.

Court Rejects Request to Access YouTube Link

Following the revelation of the blank CD, Kolhatkar sought permission to play the speech via a YouTube link. Advocate Milind Dattatraya Pawar, representing Rahul Gandhi, opposed this move, asserting that online content lacks inherent authenticity. Magistrate Shinde agreed, citing Section 65-B of the Indian Evidence Act, which mandates that any electronic record must have a certificate of authentication to be admissible in court.

Additional CD Attempts Also Fail

Satyaki Savarkar’s team then attempted to submit two more CDs as evidence. The court rejected these petitions, confirming that no additional CDs were on record. Consequently, the CD meant to display Rahul Gandhi’s purported objectionable remarks from his London speech in 2023 could not be played during the cross-examination on November 14th.

Call for Judicial Inquiry and Adjournment

Following the incident, Advocate Kolhatkar requested a judicial inquiry to investigate the mystery of the blank CD. Although Advocate Pawar opposed this request, the court adjourned the hearing until Friday. The bizarre episode has added a dramatic dimension to the case and raised questions about how the previously viewed CD became blank.

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Sorit Chaudhary

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