The Supreme Court on Tuesday pulled up Congress President Rahul Gandhi’s counsel even after he verbally apologised for incorrectly attributing to the top court his “chowkidar chor hai” remark. The apex court allowed the counsel to file a new affidavit by Monday.
The counsel told the court that his client would apologisefor attributing the remark to the top court. A bench headed by Chief JusticeRanjan Gogoi observed that it was extending a third opportunity to the CongressPresident.
Gandhi’s counsel Abhishek Manu Singhvi offered the apologyon behalf of his client a day after the Congress President filed a reply to theapex court’s notice on the issue, in which he had only expressed regret for theremark. In his affidavit, Gandhi said he had made the remark in the “heatof campaigning” and that his comment was not meant to scandalise the courtin any manner.
The CJI queried the Gandhi’s counsel: “What is themeaning of expressing regret within brackets…and you take 22-page affidavitto express regret…”
During the hearing, Gandhi’s counsel made several attemptsto defend the affidavit, and informed the court he would file a freshaffidavit. “Have you given up convincing us?” asked the court.
Advocate Mukul Rohtagi, appearing for MP Meenakshi Lekhi,who filed the contempt plea against Gandhi, said: “This is grosscontempt…he (Gandhi) while campaigning made these derogatory remarks, and itwas similar to putting words in SC”s mouth.” Rohtagi also said thatGandhi in the garb of apex court judgement sought to portray as if”Supreme Court has said that PM is a thief, and people should believe it,as the top court has said it.”