Rahul Gandhi gets word of caution from SC, no contempt proceedings over Rafale remarks

Supreme Court on Thursday gave relief to former Congress president Rahul Gandhi while simultaneously rebuking him strongly in contempt case against him for attributing his 'Chowkidaar Chor Hai' political slogan to apex court, ahe of 2019 Lok Sabha elections. 

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Shortly after Supreme Court bench dismissed Rafale review petitions, saying it felt it inappropriate to we into a 'roving and fishing inquiry', Justice SC Kaul prounced  judgment in Supreme Court for criminal contempt case against Rahul Gandhi filed by Meenakshi Lekhi. Justice Kaul said that it was unfortunate that contemr h me such remarks and that he - holding such an important position - should have been more careful. Justice Kaul observed that court should be dragged into any political discourse.

Following this, citing affidavit filed by Rahul Gandhi in which he h apologised, 3-judge bench in a concurring judgment said that it would t like to continue with contempt proceedings furr. 

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Contempt case:

Rahul Gandhi, while draging Apex court into political fight with BJP, h in April said that despite PM Modi mentioning in an interview that he has been given a clean chit by court,  Supreme Court h me it clear that 'Chowkidar' is involved in ft. He h furr said that  Supreme Court h accepted that re is corruption involved in entire Rafale issue. Following Gandhi's statement, BJP Member of Parliament Meenakshi Lekhi h accused him of misquoting an order of top court. Rahul Gandhi h said that apex court h accepted that ‘chowkidar’ is a ‘chor’.

In run-up to 2019 Lok Sabha elections, ‘Chowkidar chor hai’ was often used by Congress to imply that Prime Minister Narendra Modi h committed wrongdoing with reference to  Rafale deal, in response to which BJP h begun 'Main Bhi Chowkidaar' campaign. After Supreme Court issued a contempt tice against Rahul Gandhi, latter tendered an apology seeking closure of proceedings, holding that remarks were me in heat of political campaigning. However, Lekhi urged for initiating action against former Congress president as apology was t ‘unconditional’.  

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