New Delhi, Apr 23 (UNI) The Supreme Court in its order on Tuesday said that the personal presence of the alleged contemnor (Rahul Gandhi) in the apex court was dispensed with now.
A bench of the Apex Court, headed by Chief Justice of India (CJI) Ranjan Gogoi, said this while hearing a criminal contempt petition filed by BJP MP, Minakshi Lekhi seeking initiation of contempt against Rahul for his alleged statements attributing to Supreme court.
"The personal presence of the alleged contemnor (Rahul Gandhi) is dispensed with, for the present," the top court said.
The court passed the order after hearing the submissions from Mukul Rohatgi, lawyer of Lekhi and Dr Abhishek Manu Singhvi, advocate for Rahul.
"We deem it proper to issue notice in the matter to the alleged contemnor," the top court said today in its two-page order.
The court also said, "we also deem it proper to direct the Registry to list the present contempt petition along with criminal review petition on Rafale on April 30, Tuesday.
Singhvi, said that the SC was careful in seeking only an explanation from him to contempt petition, a bench of CJI Ranjan Gogoi and Justices Deepak Gupta and Sanjiv Khanna said it will cure te defect and issue notice to Rahul Gandhi.
Mukul Rohatgi for Meenakshi Lekhi said Mr Gandhi does not regret attributing 'chowkidar chor hai' to SC. Response shows mere lip service.
Rohatgi said, he was not satisfied with reply submitted by Mr Gandhi in the case, promoting the SC to issue formal notice to Mr Gandhi.
UNI XC PS 2237