The Supreme Court on Tuesday issued notice to Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and others on an application seeking criminal action over an alleged incident involving a pregnant journalist during an opposition march to the apex court on October 12.
A Bench comprising Chief Justice of India Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi sought responses after senior advocate Gaurav Bhatia brought the application, filed in an already pending petition, to the Court’s attention.
The applicant has sought directions for the immediate registration of an FIR against Gandhi and others allegedly involved in the incident, along with compensation for the journalist.
Allegations Against Rahul Gandhi
According to the application, Gandhi allegedly pushed the journalist towards a gate inside the Supreme Court premises, causing her to lose her balance and fall. The journalist reportedly attempted to cushion her fall with her hands.
The application alleged that the incident occurred in a crowded area in the presence of security personnel, journalists and other individuals. It further claimed that the push was deliberate rather than an accidental consequence of the crowd.
Bhatia submitted before the Bench that the journalist had been manhandled within the court premises.
The senior advocate had previously raised the matter on October 16, requesting judicial intervention. During that hearing, he claimed that the journalist was three months pregnant at the time of the alleged incident and subsequently required hospitalisation.
He had urged the Supreme Court to take cognisance of the allegations.
Earlier Notices Over October 12 March
The Supreme Court had already issued notices to Gandhi, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav, the Congress party and others in connection with a separate plea challenging the October 12 march.
The demonstration involved Gandhi and several opposition leaders, accompanied by supporters, who approached the Supreme Court to file a petition concerning alleged large-scale deletion of voters’ names and irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.
The controversy surrounding the electoral roll revision has also prompted protests in the national capital, with demonstrators demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over alleged irregularities in the exercise.
The latest application adds allegations concerning the journalist’s treatment during the march to the proceedings already pending before the Supreme Court.
