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

New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Wednesday rejected Uttar Pradesh minister Azam Khan's "unconditional apology" for his alleged remarks on the Bulandshahr gangrape case and asked him to submit a fresh affidavit by December 15th. A bench of the Apex Court headed by Justice Dipak Misra and also comprising Justice Amitava Roy asked Khan to file a fresh affidavit after noting that the earlier one file by the Uttar Pradesh Minister contained certain errors in it The Attorney General also raised questions about the draft copy submitted by Khan in connection with the apology given by him. On November 18th Azam Khan had told the apex court that he was ready to unconditionally apologise for describing as "political conspiracy" the gang rape of two women near Bulandshahr in July. 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 July 29. On August 29, 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.