Rahul tenders Rafale apology

New Delhi: Left with no alternative to bail himself out of contempt proceedings, Congress president Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday tendered his "unconditional apology" to the Supreme Court for attributing 'Chowkidar chor hai' jibe to the top court.

After the bench headed by Chief Justice of India Ranjan Gogoi rejected Rahul's previous affidavit that had expressed 'regret', and also pulled him up for making contradictory statements, Gandhi was pushed to the wall in offering the unqualified apology so as to put an end to the contempt case.

"The deponent unconditionally apologises for the wrongful attributions to this Hon'ble Court. The Deponent further states that any such attributions were entirely unintentional, non-wilful and inadvertent," stated Rahul's new affidavit.

It added that Rahul holds the Supreme Court in the highest esteem and respect and that he has never sought or intended to, directly or indirectly, commit any act that interferes with the process of administration of justice.

Rahul requested the top court to accept his apology and draw the curtains on the contempt proceedings, initiated by BJP MP Meenakshi Lekhi. "The deponent most respectfully prays that this Hon'ble Court may be graciously pleased to accept the instant affidavit and close the present contempt proceedings," maintained his affidavit.

A special bench headed by Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi said the petitions seeking review of its December 14 verdict of last year on the Rafale defence deal will also come up for hearing on May 10.