India, Sept. 23 -- The Special Court in Pune on Monday heard an application filed by Satyaki Savarkar seeking directions for Congress leader Rahul Gandhi's personal appearance in a pending defamation case. The plea, dated September 10, also contained four additional requests.

Appearing for Gandhi, Advocate Milind Pawar opposed the application, calling it "misconceived, vague and ambiguous." The defence sought more time to file a detailed reply, arguing that the complainant had not cited any statutory provision or procedural rule under which the plea was moved, a lapse they said was "critical" to evaluating its legal validity.

"The application is inherently defective, contrary to law, and liable to be rejected in limine," the defence sub...