The Supreme Court today held former Interim Director of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) M Nageswara Rao and CBI lawyer S Bhasuran guilty of contempt of Court..Both Rao and Bhasuran had tendered unconditional apologies in their affidavits filed yesterday, after the Court had sought their response for approving the transfer of a CBI official. The Court had specifically directed that no officer investigating the Bihar Shelter Homes case should be transferred without its permission..The Bench of Chief Justice of India Ranjan Gogoi with Justices L Nageswara Rao and Sanjiv Khanna noted that while both Rao and Bhasuran tendered their apologies, the affidavit also offered a justification for their actions..While holding the two individuals guilty of contempt, the Court imposed a fine of Rs 1 lakh on each of them and sentenced them to sit in a corner of the Chief Justice’s Court till the rising of the Bench today..The Court noted that Rao was aware of its orders while approving the transfer of AK Sharma, who was heading the probe in the Bihar Shelter Homes case. Despite this knowledge, Rao signed the transfer orders on January 18..“If this is not contempt, then what is?”, remarked CJI Gogoi in this regard..Attorney General KK Venugopal, arguing for CBI and all its officials, urged the Court to accept the unconditional apology and to deal with the matter with mercy. He submitted that contempt is a very powerful tool..“Let us be clear Mr Attorney General, I don’t think any of us ever had the occassion to invoke contempt. But there has to be a full stop. The dignity and majesty of the Court should be maintained”, CJI Gogoi said..The Court heard AG Venugopal as well as the two contemnors on sentencing, and then directed them to sit in the Court till the Bench rises for the day..Read the Order:
The Supreme Court today held former Interim Director of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) M Nageswara Rao and CBI lawyer S Bhasuran guilty of contempt of Court..Both Rao and Bhasuran had tendered unconditional apologies in their affidavits filed yesterday, after the Court had sought their response for approving the transfer of a CBI official. The Court had specifically directed that no officer investigating the Bihar Shelter Homes case should be transferred without its permission..The Bench of Chief Justice of India Ranjan Gogoi with Justices L Nageswara Rao and Sanjiv Khanna noted that while both Rao and Bhasuran tendered their apologies, the affidavit also offered a justification for their actions..While holding the two individuals guilty of contempt, the Court imposed a fine of Rs 1 lakh on each of them and sentenced them to sit in a corner of the Chief Justice’s Court till the rising of the Bench today..The Court noted that Rao was aware of its orders while approving the transfer of AK Sharma, who was heading the probe in the Bihar Shelter Homes case. Despite this knowledge, Rao signed the transfer orders on January 18..“If this is not contempt, then what is?”, remarked CJI Gogoi in this regard..Attorney General KK Venugopal, arguing for CBI and all its officials, urged the Court to accept the unconditional apology and to deal with the matter with mercy. He submitted that contempt is a very powerful tool..“Let us be clear Mr Attorney General, I don’t think any of us ever had the occassion to invoke contempt. But there has to be a full stop. The dignity and majesty of the Court should be maintained”, CJI Gogoi said..The Court heard AG Venugopal as well as the two contemnors on sentencing, and then directed them to sit in the Court till the Bench rises for the day..Read the Order: