Chowkidar remark — Rahul says I regret, CJI asks where’s your complete apology

The Supreme Court of India on Tuesday said that it was not sure if Congress president Rahul Gandhi had apologised for attributing the chowkidar chor hai remark to the apex court.

However, Congress president Rahul Gandhi Tuesday agreed to tender a written apology for attributing his ‘chowkidar chor hai’ remark to the court.

Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi, who is in-charge of hearing the case, asked Rahul Gandhi’s lawyers, “Where have we said all that? How can you attribute it to us? Where have you expressed complete regret? Why the second affidavit?”

The Supreme Court asked Abhishek Manu Singhvi, Rahul Gandhi’s counsel, the reason for mentioning “regret” within brackets in the affidavit.

Rahul Gandhi’s counsel, Abhishek Manu Singhvi said on behalf of the Congress leader, “I have expressed regret. That is the same as an apology. There cannot be any doubt on my statement.”

However, CJI Gogoi was not pleased. He said, “We have great difficulty in understanding what you are saying.”

The court also asked where has Rahul Gandhi expressed “complete regrets” for attributing the chowkidar chor hai jibe to the Supreme Court. CJI Gogoi then asked, “What is the meaning of expression of regret in brackets?”

Earlier, after the SC had rejected the Centre’s objections to the admissibility of certain documents submitted by the review petitioners in the Rafale deal matter, Gandhi had said: “Supreme Court ne clear kar diya hai ki chowkidarji ne chori karwai (Supreme Court has made it clear that chowkidarji got the theft done)”.