Rahul Gandhi Apologises To Court For Attributing Chowkidar Remarks To SC

Congress president Rahul Gandhi today expressed apology to the Supreme Court for attributing "chowkidar chor hai" remarks to the Court in the context of the April 10 verdict of the Court to hear Rafale review on merits.

"I sincerely apologise for attributing the comments to SC," said Gandhi's lawyer Dr Abhishek Manu Singhvi.

On April 15, the top court had sought Gandhi's explanation on a petition filed by BJP MP Meenakshi Lekhi, who has sought criminal contempt against the Congress president for wrongfully attributing statements to the apex court. Senior advocate Mukul Rohatgi, appearing for Lekhi, had told the CJI-led bench that Congress president made a remark that the "Supreme Court has said, chowkidaar chor hai" in the verdict in Rafale review delivered on April 10

In response, Gandhi filed an affidavit saying that 'Chowkidar' remarks were made during political campaign in a  "rhetorical fashion at the heat of the moment" and clarified that he did not have the slightest intention to bring SC into the political arena or disrepute.

He also said that the comments were twisted by his opponents and expressed 'regret' for using 'chowkidar' remarks in juxtaposition with the SC verdict.

Today, Senior Advocate Mukul Rohatgi submitted that Gandhi had not offered any unconditional apology for his remarks and had justified making them. He added that Gandhi had put words in the mouth of SC for political campaigning, which amounted to grossest form of contempt.

He further mentioned that Gandhi had repeated the comments at more than one occasion, and that his explanation that the remarks were made without reading the order copy was no acceptable.

The CJI-led bench remarked that it was not able to understand the affidavit and asked why 'regret' was stated in brackets.

The Court also asked if there was a statement of Gandhi's apology. At this, Singhvi undertook to file an affidavit to that effect by next Monday.