The Supreme Court on Friday quashed the criminal defamation proceedings initiated against Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi over his remarks on Hindutva ideologue V.D. Savarkar. The apex court held that the prosecution could not proceed as the Uttar Pradesh government had not given the requisite sanction to go ahead.

A Bench of Justice Dipankar Datta and Justice Sheel Nagu allowed his plea after noting that the criminal case lacked the particular sanction required under the law to prosecute Gandhi in the case.