Rahul Gandhi rape case: UP CM Akhilesh Yadav made me do it, says former SP MLA

The case of alleged illegal confinement and alleged rape of a girl in which Rahul Gandhi's name was dragged took a new turn today with a former Samajwadi Party MLA claiming he filed the petition linking Gandhi at the behest of Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav.

"It is the present Chief Minister," advocate Kamini Jaiswal, appearing for the former MLA from Madhya Pradesh Kishore Samrite told a Supreme Court bench comprising justices B S Chauhan and Swatanter Kumar.

She gave this reply when the bench referred to specific averments made by Samrite in the affidavit in which he stated that he had filed the petition at the behest of the Samajwadi Party leaders.

"What do you mean and who are they," the bench asked while referring to Samrite's affidavit

Jaiswal said the case is being investigated by the CBI and Samrite has recorded his statement giving the names of the person at whose behest he filed the petition.

After that the bench wanted to know the stand of the senior advocate Ratnakar Dash, counsel for Uttar Pradesh Government.

He said the state government has not filed any affidavit in the matter as there was no specific allegation and since it has come for the first time that the Chief Minister has been named he would prefer to file an affidavit. The bench posted the matter for further hearing on September 17.

The apex court has commenced the final hearing a petition filed by a former MLA challenging Rs 50 lakh fine imposed on him by the Allahabad High Court for approaching it with these allegations.

Rahul Gandhi had pleaded that a case of perjury and contempt should be initiated against Samtrite.

The bench, however, had said that for levelling these allegation a proper application has to be filed as the court was only hearing a limited aspect relating to the case.

... contd.

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