Bulandshahr gangrape: SC rejects Azam Khan's unconditional apology, orders filing of fresh affidavit

The Supreme Court today rejected controversial Samajwadi Party leader Azam Khan's unconditional apology for his alleged remarks on the Bulandshahr gangrape case and asked him to submit a fresh affidavit by 15 December.

The apex court bench headed by Justice Dipak Misra asked Khan to file a fresh affidavit after noting that the earlier one filed by the Uttar Pradesh minister contained certain errors.

The Attorney General also raised questions about the draft copy submitted by Khan in connection with the apology given by him.

Also read:Bulandshahr gangrape is a political conspiracy, says SP's Azam Khan

On 18 November, Khan had told the apex court that he was ready to unconditionally apologise for describing the gang rape of two women near Bulandshahr in July as a "political conspiracy".

Appearing for Khan, senior advocate Kapil Sibal argued that his client had made a general remark which was not targeted at the family of the victim, however, the judges were not convinced and they asked Sibal how a public figure like Khan could make such a comment on the crime.

The top court had earlier directed media organisations to submit the press conference or byte of Khan in which he made the statement related to rape case.

The minister created a controversy after he alleged that a "political conspiracy" is involved in the gang-rape of a minor girl and her mother on the highway in Bulandshahr on 29 July.

Also read:SC asks Azam Khan to apologise for calling Bulandshahr rape case a 'political conspiracy'

On 29 August, the top court issued Khan a notice for his reported comment.

The case was subsequently handed over to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).

In September, the court asked the CBI to serve a notice to the minister for his alleged statement.

--With ANI inputs