Blitz Bureau
NEW DELHI:The Delhi High Court on May 22 issued notices to Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Gopal Rai and investigative journalist Saurav Das in a criminal contempt petition alleging circulation of scandalous and contemptuous social media content against Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma in connection with the excise policy case.
The petition, filed by Ashok Chaitanya under Section 15(1)(c) of the Contempt of Courts Act, 1971, read with Article 215 of the Constitution, had also sought initiation of contempt proceedings against AAP national convenor and former Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and party leader Saurabh Bharadwaj.
However, a Bench of Justices Navin Chawla and Ravinder Dudeja observed that Kejriwal and Bharadwaj had already been issued notices in the suo motu criminal contempt proceedings initiated earlier by the Delhi High Court.
It directed that the two matters be heard together and listed them for the next hearing on August 4.
The Delhi High Court directed the newly impleaded proposed contemnors to file their replies before the next date of listing and ordered the Registry to preserve the social media material relied upon in the latest petition.
It further directed that Kejriwal, Bharadwaj, and senior advocate Rajdipa Behura — the amicus curiae appointed to assist the court — be provided with copies of the petition and supporting material.
“We also appoint Ms. Rajdipa Behura, Senior Advocate, as amicus curiae to assist the court in this case. A copy of the paperbook be supplied to the learned amicus curiae by the Registry of this court,” the order stated.
