New Delhi:
Congress General Secretary Rahul Gandhi's counsel told the Supreme Court today that the allegation that Mr Gandhi had "illegally detained" a girl and her parents was politically motivated and to tarnish his image.
Mr Gandhi's lawyer P P Rao told the top court that the petitioner had indulged in deliberate character assassination of a young leader full of promise to tarnish his image in the eyes of the nation and to hurt the feelings of lakhs of his supporters and the rank and file of the Congress party.
A former Samajwadi Party MLA from Madhya Pradesh had filed a case in the Allahabad High Court against Mr Gandhi, alleging that he had abducted and raped a Dalit woman. The Allahabad High Court had asked the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to investigate the matter after the girl denied everything when produced in court.
The investigating agency said that the entire case was based on false information. It said that even the names and addresses of the alleged victim and her family were fake.
The High Court then imposed a fine of Rs 50 lakh on Mr Samrite, which he has appealed against in Supreme Court.
In the meantime, Mr Samrite went one step further and claimed that he was paid by Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav to make this allegation against Mr Gandhi. The UP government has filed an affidavit in court denying this.
Mr Rao has argued that Mr Samrite be punished for filing a false petition. Arguments will continue next Monday.