SC notice to Rahul Gandhi on ex-MLA?s petition

The Supreme Court on Wednesday slapped notices on Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, Uttar Pradesh government and four others on a plea by a former MLA, who was imposed Rs 50 lakh fine by the Allahabad High Court while quashing a case filed by him against Rahul.

The apex court bench, comprising justices VS Sirpurkar and TS Thakur, gave the respondents four weeks time to file their replies.

The court also stayed the lower court?s order for a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe against the former MLA, Kishore Samrite.

A former Samajwadi Party legislator in Madhya Pradesh, Samrite had moved the Allahabad High Court, alleging that Rahul had held a girl and her parents captive.

The High Court had, however, dismissed the petition after the girl, Sukanya, told the court that the charges were false.

The girl and her parents were produced before the court as per its directions.

Another similar petition was filed by one Ganejndra Pal Singh, who claimed to be Sukanya?s relative.

Rejecting the petition, the High Court had imposed a fine of Rs 50 lkah on Samrite and ordered a CBI enquiry on the attempt to defame a high profile personality.