Supreme Court seeks Rahul Gandhi's reply over alleged push to pregnant journalist

The Supreme Court sought replies from Rahul Gandhi and others over an alleged push involving a pregnant journalist. The application seeks an FIR and compensation while raising concerns about safety during the march.

In Short

• Petition seeks immediate FIR and compensation for the woman journalist
• Application says she lost balance and broke her fall with hands
• Senior advocate Gaurav Bhatia raised the matter before the bench

The Supreme Court on Tuesday sought responses from Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and others over a plea alleging that he pushed a pregnant journalist during a march to the court on October 12, news agency Press Trust of India reported.

The plea seeks the immediate registration of an FIR against Gandhi and all others allegedly involved in the incident, as well as compensation for the journalist.

A bench comprising Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi issued notices to Gandhi and the other respondents after senior advocate Gaurav Bhatia mentioned the matter. Bhatia said an application had been filed in a pending petition.

Bhatia submitted that a woman journalist was manhandled on the court premises. The application alleged: "Respondent No.4 (Rahul Gandhi) suddenly pushed her towards the gate, with such force that she lost her balance and fell, and had to break the fall with her hands. The push was delivered openly, in a crowded place, in the presence of security personnel, journalists and other persons, despite her express pleas, and was not a mere jostle of the crowd."

Bhatia had also urged the bench on October 16 to consider the matter. "A lady journalist was pushed by Rahul Gandhi in the Supreme Court precincts. She was three months pregnant and had to be hospitalised," PTI quoted him as saying. He had also asked the Supreme Court to take cognisance of the matter.

On October 12, Gandhi and several prominent Opposition leaders, accompanied by their supporters, reached the Supreme Court to file a plea over alleged large-scale voter deletions and irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls.

Delhi has witnessed several protests demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over alleged irregularities in the revision process. The Supreme Court had earlier issued notices to Gandhi, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav, the Congress and others on a plea against the October 12 march.

The latest application, filed in the pending case, alleges that the pregnant journalist was pushed during the march and seeks an FIR and compensation. The Supreme Court has now asked Gandhi and the other respondents to reply.

- Ends