NEW DELHI: Dismissing petitions against

Rahul Gandhi

over alleged rape and kidnapping charges, the Supreme Court directed the CBI on Thursday to probe the petitioner's claim that he was instigated by the top

Samajwadi Party

leaders into filing the charge.

The apex court said charges against Rahul Gandhi were utterly false, misleading and motivated and there was not even an iota of evidence against him.

It maintained that Rahul's image and reputation had been damaged because of the false and misleading petitions.

Rahul had earlier told the Supreme Court that the allegations against him that he wrongfully confined and raped a woman in his Amethi Lok Sabha constituency were an act of "sinister political mudslinging".

The Supreme Court also modified the Allahabad HC order which had imposed Rs 50 lakh fine on the petitioners and asked both of them to pay Rs 5 lakh each as fine.