Ranjit Savarkar, the grandson of V.D.
Ranjit Savarkar, the grandson of V.D. Savarkar, is planning to move the Bombay high court with a determination to wipe out the only ‘blot’ on the great freedom fighter — his alleged patronage to the killers of Mahatma Gandhi
Mr Ranjit said on Friday that he would file a suit in the HC demanding exclusion of chapter 25 in the report of Justice Jivanlal Kapur Commission, which was constituted to inquire the conspiracy to assassinate Mahatma Gandhi. In this chapter, Mr Kapur had observed that the investigation officer J.D. Nagarwala had neglected the available evidence while investigating the conspiracy.
Mr Kapur had stated, “All these facts taken together were destructive of any theory other than the conspiracy to murder by Savarkar and his group.”
This only statement in the report, which runs into hundreds of pages, is often used by Savarkar’s detractors to brand him as the main conspirator behind Gandhi’s murder, though Kapur had exonerated Savarkar for want of corroborative evidence.
The Commission was formed six months after Savarkar’s death in February 1966. It submitted its report in November 1969. Mr Ranjit argued that this sentence in the report was an observation and not the conclusion.
“Mr Kapur had irresponsibly written the sentence. He deliberately called (Gandhi’s killers) Nathuram Godse and Narayan Apte as Mr Savarkar’s followers. The fact is Mr Savarkar had snapped ties with Mr Godse two years before the killing,” he said.
Mr Ranjit said he was keen to moderate the Kapur Commission’s report because he wanted to expose the Congress’ “conspiracy” to defame Savarkar. “The Nehru-Gandhi rule was established in Congress only after Jawaharlal Nehru falsely implicated Savarkar in the Gandhi assassination case. The Congress knows it well that its organisation will collapse if Nehru is proved wrong. I can assure you that I will go ahead with my plan to expose the Congress,” he said.
He also claimed that the law permitted expunging of certain portions of a judicial commission if concrete evidences that can establish that the portion was incorrect are produced. “The Kapur Commission report was not available in digital format. We have digitised it now. I have consulted legal advisors. They have asked me to go ahead with the suit,” Mr Ranjit said.
Savarkar is in news again since the Shiv Sena has launched a campaign demanding the Bharat Ratna for him in view of his 50th death anniversary on February 26. Mr Ranjit, however, said that neither the family nor the Savarkar National Trust was itching for the country’s highest civilian honour.
“First, it is inappropriate for us to seek the award for our family member. And second, Savarkar and his work were beyond any award. His title Swatantryaveer (brave freedom fighter) is much worthy than any other award,” he said.
