Will accept apology only after observing your conduct, testing bonafides: Karnataka HC to 72-year-old man who threatened to kill SC, HC judges

The Karnataka High Court on Monday refused to accept the unconditional apology tendered by Sriniwas Rao who had accused certain High Court and Supreme Court judges of corruption and threatened to kill them. .In its order, a Division Bench of Chief Justice Abhay Shreeniwas Oka and Justice Suraj Govindraj stated that the Court will have to satisfy itself about the bonafides of the apology before it can accept the same. “The Accused has tendered an affidavit dated 3rd March, 2021 stating that he has decided to withdraw all scandalous allegations made by him saying that 24 Judges of the Supreme Court, 16 Judges of the High Court and few members of the Bar are corrupt. The accused has filed an affidavit tendering unconditional apology and withdrawing all scandalous allegations….The Court will have to decide whether the apology tendered is bonafide…”The Court further added that prior to considering the apology of the accused, it would have to ensure that the accused does not indulge such activities again. This would depend on the conduct of accused in the future, stated the Court.The High Court was hearing a criminal contempt of court petition initiated against 72-year-old Rao after he had written a letter to the High Court registry threatening to kill two judges of the High Court and Supreme Court as well as two lawyers.Rao had later apologised. During the hearing of the matter the Court said that it will have to observe Rao's conduct before taking a call on his apology. “We can accept your apology only after we are satisfied. We need to test your bonafide…We will keep it pending to observe your conduct," the Bench said. .Karnataka High Court initiates criminal contempt case against 72-year-old man who threatened to kill Supreme Court, High Court judges .The Court also looked into the five memos tendered by the accused as the hearing progressed.“This is not the language to be used in the affidavit. This is uncalled for…”The Court further noted that there was a prayer for quashing the FIR registered against the accused in the matter. However, it opined that the said prayer cannot be entertained in a contempt petition.The matter will be heard next on April 22.