SC dismisses plea against Rahul, fines petitioner

The Supreme Court (SC) today dismissed a petition accusing Congress leader Rahul Gandhi of kidnapping a girl in Uttar Pradesh, terming it politically motivated. It also imposed Rs 5 lakh fine on the petitioner, a former BSP MLA.

The Supreme Court (SC) on Thursday dismissed a petition accusing Congress leader Rahul Gandhi of kidnapping a girl in Uttar Pradesh, terming it politically motivated. It also imposed Rs 5 lakh fine on the petitioner, a former BSP MLA.

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A bench of Justice BS Chauhan and Justice Swatanter Kumar said that petitioner Kishore Samrite would have to pay the cost to Rahul Gandhi and directed the CBI to continue with its probe against the former MLA. The agency will submit its report within six months to an appropriate court.

Samrite had approached the SC after the Allahabad High Court dismissed his petition seeking a probe into the alleged kidnapping incident involving Rahul Gandhi and some other persons. The HC had also imposed Rs. 50 lakh fine on him and ordered a CBI probe too.

The Congress hailed the verdict as "landmark" and warned that baseless allegations were dangerous for politics. Insisting for taking a comprehensive view of the apex court order, party general secretary Janardan Dwivedi said, "It is dangerous for politics the way today very cheap, very low level allegations are being traded..."

The court also dismissed the petition filed by one Gajender Pal Singh, who had also approached the Allahabad HC for saving the reputation of Gandhi and the family of the alleged detenus.

The SC said Singh had approached the court without disclosing complete facts. It also directed him to pay Rs 5 lakh to the girl who was dragged into the controversy.