No question of regret on remark against RSS: Rahul

R Sedhuraman

Legal Correspondent

New Delhi, November 26

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi today told the Supreme Court that there was no question of regretting his remark suggesting the involvement of RSS in the assassination of Mahatma Gandhi.

Appearing for Rahul, senior advocate Kapil Sibal said the criminal defamation case against his client was based on a frivolous complaint aimed at harassing the Congress leader. Going by several judicial pronouncements in similar cases, it was clear the complaint had no legal basis, he pleaded.

Sibal was responding to a suggestion by a Bench comprising Justices Dipak Misra and PC Pant that Rahul was free to settle the defamation case by expressing regret for his alleged remark.

The SC nevertheless extended today the interim protection given to Rahul on May 7 by staying the trial court proceedings against him in the criminal defamation case. It posted the next hearing for February 17, 2016.