Judge Loya death case: BJP demands Rahul Gandhi's apology; Congress says 'sad day'

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Thursday attacked the Congress for allegedly filing petitions in Supreme Court requesting an investigation into the death of Judge BH Loya as the apex court dismissed the pleas in the matter as 'frivolous'. 

The Supreme Court today ruled that Judge Loya died of natural causes and that the petitions were serious attempts to scandalise and obstruct the course of justice.

Addressing a press conference, BJP leader and Union minister Ravi Shankar Prasad alleged that the case was filed not to serve the public interest but to serve the interests of Congress and damage the interests of BJP, 'our party President Amit Shah in particular'. 

"Court said political battles must be fought on political grounds. It clearly means that the case was fought as the political battle against our party President Amit Shah. I urge Rahul Gandhi not to fight political battles through corridors of Court," Prasad said.

Earlier, BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra described the public interest litigations seeking the probe into the death of Judge Loya as "political interest litigation", and charged that Gandhi and his party were behind it. 

Noting that the Congress had held press conferences and Gandhi had led a delegation of opposition parties to the President for seeking a probe, Patra said he should "apologise" and be "ashamed" for his conspiracy to target Amit Shah, and Indian judiciary and democracy. The "invisible hand" behind these petitions in the apex court belonged to Gandhi and the Congress, Patra alleged.

The reaction from the ruling party comes moments after Congress slammed BJP for allegedly misinterpreting the SC judgment in the matter. 

"BJP is attempting to misinterpret SC judgment to attack Cong reflects its jitteriness," Congress spokesperson Randeep Surjewala said at a press conference, reiterating that the main opposition party was still "committed to people's demand for a fair probe into circumstances surrounding judge Loya's death. 

"Sad day in India's history, its people looking for answers," Surjewala said.

The issue of Loya's death had come under the spotlight in November last year after media reports quoting his sister had fuelled suspicion about circumstances surrounding it and its link to the Sohrabuddin case, which he was hearing before he died. 

Shah was an accused in the case but was later discharged. Several activists and opposition parties had alleged a foul play in his death. 

While dismissing the plea for an independent probe, the top court today said that with these petitions it becomes clear that a real attempt and a frontal attack was made on the independence of the judiciary. 

The apex court said frivolous and motivated litigation has been filed to settle political rivalry.

Watch video | Judge Loya death case: BJP says Rahul Gandhi should apologise to Amit Shah