Congress Chief Rahul Gandhi files yet another affidavit in response to contempt plea stating: "Comments made on the basis of 'social and electronic media reportage' done on the matter"

With the contempt plea hearing against Rahul Gandhi's controversial statement 'Supreme Court ne keh diya ki Chowkidar ne chori ki hai' scheduled for April 30, the Congress president Rahul Gandhi, on Monday has filed an affidavit where he has reiterated his stance regretting attributing the comment to the Supreme Court (SC).

Republic TV has accessed a copy of Gandhi's affidavit in which he states that while nothing was in his mind while commenting on the SC order on the Rafale deal, he was clear that no court would ever say 'Chowkidar Chor Hai' and he expressed regret over the comment saying it was said in the heat of the political campaigning.

" It (my comment) has been used (and misused by my political opponents to project that I had deliberately and intentionally suggested that this Court had said 'Chowkidar Chor Hai.' It is also clear that no court would ever do that and hence the unfortunate references (for which I express regret) to the court order which was made in heat of the political campaigning ought not to be construed as suggesting that the court had given any finding or conclusion on that issue," wrote Gandhi.

He has further stated in the affidavit that he had not read the SC order on the Rafale deal and had made on the basis of 'social and electronic media reportage' done on the matter.

" The Respondent's brief statement to the media was made in this context, without having seen, read or analyzed the order at that stage. It was made on the basis of a bonafide belief and general understanding of the Order as being talked about in electronic and social media reportage and by several workers and activists surrounding the Respondent," added Gandhi.

While claiming that the statement was made by him (Gandhi) in a rhetoric flourish in the heat of the moment, he does not outright apologize for the comment itself.

Read some pages of the affidavit here:

Small Relief For Rahul Gandhi, SC Exempts Him From Personally Appearing In Contempt Plea Hearing On April 30

Earlier on April 23, the SC had released an order stating that Rahul Gandhi was exempted from personally appearing in the contempt plea scheduled on April 30.

The Order released by the apex court read:

"On the basis of the statements made by Dr. Abhishek Manu Singhvi, learned senior counsel appearing for the alleged contemnor, we deem it proper to issue a notice in the matter. Personal presence of the alleged contemnor is dispensed with, for the present."

On Tuesday, the Supreme Court took up the case a day after the Congress president admitted via an affidavit that he had made the remarks 'in the heat of political campaigning' and expressed regret for the same.

The Chief Justice of India, Ranjan Gogoi, questioned Rahul Gandhi's counsel Abhishek Manu Singhvi asking "who is Chowkidar? Did we mention Chowkidar in the court order?"

The Supreme Court on April 15 had issued a notice to the Congress president asking him to respond to the criminal contempt petition filed by BJP leader Meenakshi Lekhi, following his statement that 'Supreme Court said that Chowkidar is involved in a theft' ('Supreme Court ne keh diya ki Chowkidar ne chori ki hai') while addressing the media after filing his nomination papers in Amethi.