Mahatma Gandhi Assassination Case: Key Facts

🕊️ Assassination

• Date: 30 January 1948

• Victim: Mahatma Gandhi

• Assassin: Nathuram Vinayak Godse, a Hindu Mahasabha member

📝 FIR & Investigation

• FIR Registered: 30 Jan 1948, 5:17 PM

• Police Station: Tuglak Road P.S.

• Complainant: Nandlal Mehta

• Charge Sheet Filed: 27 May 1948

• Prosecution Witnesses: 149

👥 Accused

• Total Accused: 11

• Absconding (3):

  • Gangadhar Dandwati

  • Gangadhar Jadhav

  • Suradeo Sharma

⚖️ Charges Invoked

• IPC: Sections 302, 120B, 109, 114, 115

• Explosive Substances Act: Sections 3, 4, 5, 6

• Indian Arms Act: Section 19

🏛️ Trial Details

• Court: Special Court, Red Fort, Delhi

• Constituted Under: Bombay Public Security Measures Act, 1947

• Trial Began: 22 June 1948

• Judge: Justice Atma Charan

• Cause Title: The Crown v. Nathuram Vinayak Godse & Ors.

• Evidence Concluded: 6 Nov 1948

• Judgment Delivered: 10 Feb 1949

• Judgment Length: 110 pages (27 chapters)

⚖️ Special Court Verdict (1949)

❗ Why Savarkar Was Acquitted

• Case rested only on approver’s testimony

• Court held it unsafe to rely solely on such evidence

• No proof of his involvement on 20 or 30 Jan 1948

🔁 Appeal Before High Court

• Filed: 2 May 1949 (East Punjab High Court, Simla)

• Bench: Justices A.N. Bhandari, G.D. Khosla, Achhru Ram

• Decision: 21 June 1949

High Court Outcome

• Death penalty upheld: Godse & Apte

• Convictions upheld: Karkare, Pahwa, Gopal Godse

• Acquitted: Shankar Kistayya & Dattatraya Parchure

⚰️ Executions & Release

• Godse & Apte: Hanged on 15 Nov 1949 (Ambala Jail)

• Others Convicted: Released in October 1964

🔍 Key Findings of the High Court

• Conspiracy to murder Gandhi existed

• Godse & Apte were chief organisers

• Police could not realistically prevent the assassination

• Allegations of police slackness were unjustified

🧑‍⚖️ Judicial Observations

• Justice Achhru Ram favoured mercy for younger accused

• Justice Khosla strongly opposed commutation for Pahwa

• Justice Bhandari defended Delhi Police investigation

🚫 Further Appeals

• Privy Council: Special Leave Petition dismissed

• Supreme Court (2023):

  • Petition alleging mistrial rejected

  • ₹25,000 cost imposed

  • SC called it a “most misconceived petition under Article 32”

🧠 Why This Case Still Matters

• Landmark trial on criminal conspiracy

• Sets standards on approver evidence

• Demonstrates judicial restraint in political crimes

• Reaffirms that history cannot be reopened without constitutional grounds